Howler Toad - Lickin' The Toad

Band / Artist: Howler Toad
Year: 2009
Genre: Stoner Rock, Prog Rock, Rock

My Review:
You'd think that this was going to be something completely different than it is. My first thought was it would be some laid back, long form prog rock. It isn't, by any means. This album is very driven. Its got a hard rock punch to it, that I would easily see myself going pretty crazy at a concert with. Maybe even hitting up the mosh pit.

Howler Toad comes out of Barcelona, Spain, and they may have broken up. I can't find much information for them, and their myspace page is shut down. I am sure to keep an eye out for new albums from them, because this really is a good band, one that I would love to see touring.

Since I can't find any more details for them, I'll just leave it there.

Howler Toad - Lickin' The Toad

_yi. - Irasshaimase & Sayonara EP

 

Band / Artist: _yi.
Year: 2014
Genre: Glitch, Funk Techno, Breaks

My Review:

MERRY CRHIRSTMARS

A short, sweet EP from the same guy that brought you a longer one not too long ago.


Much like the last one, this is a funky, dancy progression of bleeps and bloops and songs that were decimated to make all of the right sounds to go in just the right places. I like this guy, and I hope he keeps doing his thing, because it keeps me dancing in my car.

If you dig this, make sure to go on to listen to his new album, IDEO-POP!, which he is selling for 5 bucks.


_yi. - Irasshaimase & Sayonara EP

Harvey Danger - Dead Sea Scrolls

Band / Artist: Harvey Danger
Year: 2009
Genre: Alternative Rock, Rock

My Review:
A collection of B-sides, rarities, and live recordings sold exclusively on the band's final tour dates.

Its a great album of tracks, and really shouldn't be missed out on. They actually keep the albums available from their website, or by torrent. You should consider throwing down a buck or two to cover the hosting costs by clicking here. I tossed down 5 bucks to them, because I loved them.

I just shared Harvey Danger a little bit ago, so i dont think we need much more description. just go enjoy it.

Harvey Danger -  Dead Sea Scrolls

Aba Made Sound - Nu Afrobeat

Band / Artist: Aba Made Sound
Year: 2012
Genre: Afrobeat, Funk, House

My Review:
Some strong groove, Some great shaking and moving.Its classically afrobeat. That sound that makes you think of the african funk era, just stripped down into something more streamlined and danceable.It sort of becomes this odd funky lounge-dance sound, which can be a great filler for a party at your house.

Since Afrobeat isn't too widespread in america, I'll share a chunk of description from Wikipedia;

Afrobeat is a combination of traditional Nigerian and Ghanaian music, jazz, highlife, funk, and chanted vocals,fused with percussion and vocal styles, popularised in Africa in the 1970s. 

This album is created by a group of musicians out of Turin, Italy. Most notabley is Cyberdread who made all of the sampling work come together. Its a good, lively album of longer pieces with lots of cowbell, hand drums, vocal samples, horns. It mixes lo-fi and hi-fi really smoothly, and gives you something that is just engaging enough to make things have an aire of action, while being relaxing at the same time.

Aba Made Sound - Nu Afrobeat

TickTockMan - Faded Shapes

Band / Artist: TickTockMan
Year:2014
Genre: Future Punk, Alternative Rock, Prog Rock

My Review:
Like Mars Volta? You should take the chance to hear TickTockMan.

I'm not going to say that they are a direct copy. They aren't. They play a softer, more simple, less frantic version of the type of sound that you hear in a Mars Volta album. The singer also sings in a much more "plain" register, without hitting the very-high-pitch that the singer of Mars Volta does. Also, did you know that this subgenre of music is called "Future punk"? What the hell does that mean?

The band is out of Seattle, and has been around since 2009. Their name seems to directly reference a short story ("Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman") by a science fiction author Harlan Ellison. My favorite tracks on this album are probably "Pull & Fire" and "Cracked", while "Might Explode" is definitely another that really rings out for the album.




I've had music from TickTockMan for a while, catching an old EP from them that i was considering sharing, but didn't really have the time. I'm really enjoying this one. Not so much as a driving album for in the city, but maybe out on a longer highway drive. It works pretty well as music to work to.

TickTockMan - Faded Shapes

(Not Music) David Gallaher & Steve Ellis - The Only Living Boy: Books 1, 2, & 3

This one is a little off topic, but I figured it would be worth a share.

Enjoy the written stories of a boy with a sword in a world with no people, and dinosaurs apparently.

I'm not going to go on much, just say that it is a set of free graphic novels, and I like free. If you like comics, then go grab them up.


David Gallaher & Steve Ellis - The Only Living Boy: Books 1, 2, & 3



If that struck your fancy, then consider these.

Eddie Wright - Tyranny of the Muse

Eric Palicki - Red Angel Dragnet

Microbit Project - White Deaf Cat

Band / Artist: Microbit Project
Year: Recorded 2012, Released 2014
Genre: Ambient Techno, Lo-Fi, IDM

My Review:
A sweet, soft, Lo-Fi album of chiptuney IDM type stuff. it has a lot of synth Theramin sounds. Its very melodic, and leaves you in a peaceful place overall. The label released a long post with the album, so here it is.

Microbit Project is a music project by EugenKha.
One of the most creative melodic music producers among poets, and audio explores that puts Russia high up on the underground map of prettiness!

He debuts a very beautiful release on L0bit, delivering all round electronic sweetness. It's something that you will like when you are into good friendly vibes,  that put 'easy listening' way up to to the forefront.

an album about a pretty 'White Deaf Cat' celebrated with lovable melodies, petite cuteness and friendly vibes. Something so adorable that you might scratch your head how on earth this release could be delivered for free! But that was written in the will of the deaf white cat, that this music would be out there for everyone to enjoy, to be cherished and loved!

And for sure this release is all about love! every note you hear, perfectly captured in this ultra friendly sound. These cute music lines that makes you feel like stroking the soft fur of a white deaf cat. It's of grotesque beauty and yet so microscopic small that it will fit in your smallest pocket.

The release comes with two remixes for everyone who just can't get enough of this album! And L0bit assures you, you can't get enough of this album!

Alright, well, go enjoy.

Microbit Project - White Deaf Cat

Harvey Danger - Little By Little

Band / Artist: Harvey Danger
Year: 2007
Genre: Alternative

My Review:
I listened the hell out of Harvey Danger when I was about 16 and onward. Where have all the merry makers gone was an amazing album, that was as moving and thought provoking as it was driven. I love the way that this band has played out their lyrics. I strongly encourage you to listen to them if you never have.

Anyway, Harvey Danger released 2 albums and played on a fair number of soundtracks before they reached this album. by the end of their time recording it, they agreed to try something different with their last fruit of their labor, and then broke up as a band. This was the message that they sent out from their website.

We are offering the entirety of our third album, Little by Little..., as a free download (if you're curious why we're doing this, you can read our reasons here).

We have included a mini-website that contains album artwork, liner notes, etc. along with the music. The entire thing is zipped up into a single file for easier downloading. After you get the file, just unzip the file and you should find everything you need.

If you like what you hear and you want to support us, consider making a small contribution.

Mostly, nobody knew about this album, so i stumbled across it by chance, and have been playing it here and there ever since. Its a very worthwhile album to give a try, and I don't think I've ever met anyone who didn't at least enjoy it a little bit. Here's a sample song from it, and a personal favorite



Alright, happy downloading.

Harvey Danger - Little By Little (MP3)

Harvey Danger - Little By Little (OGG)

([not music]) SIDNEY BREYER IS ALIVE

Okay, Jumbly Music is back online. Sorry about the delay.

We have some new things coming in, and a full schedule that should be taking us all the way to Valentines without slowing down. I'm excited for it. Hopefully we can share some new special things as well.

Alright well, I'm gonna have a post go up today, and then we will start the regular rotation from today. If you have anything special to request, go for it. I'd love to see what comes back.

Majorka - Self Titled

Band / Artist: Majorka
Year: 2014
Genre: Lo-fi, Indie, Post-Rock, Dark Psychedelic

My Review:
I stumbled across this album while lurking on forums, and listened through it for hours. Majorka is Chris Petry “Petry”on Guitar, Bass, Synth, Vocals, and some Mastering, and Blake Hill “Vulgaris” Vulgaris on Drums and Mastering. I didn't know they were in Beaufort SC, but I'm sad that I never met them while I was in Savannah.

So this is how they describe themselves. 

Majorka is a dark psychedelic band from Beaufort, South Carolina, made up with atmospheric tones and deep lyrics.

I have been loving this album, it was humble and melodic. If I'm gonna try to describe it, I'd say it is reminiscent of the softer parts of the latest 2 Tool albums, as well as a bit of the acoustic, folk sound that I've shared in things like Connor Bird's album, Where Winter Hides. Its a creative mix, and I wholly support you supporting them if you like this, by going to their website a chipping them a buck or two, or buying the physical signed cd.

You can see their website here.

Alright, well I hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

Majorka - Self-Titled

Sufjan Stevens - Enjoy your rabbit

 

Band / Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Year: 2001
Genre: Experimental, Orchestral, Glitch

My Review:
I LOVE THIS ALBUM.

This is before the Sufjan (Soof-Yahn?) that people know a lot about. This was an orchestral sounding album, made of digital glitches and bleeps along with a myriad of other sounds.

I had heard his Michigan & Illinois albums, which I liked, but when I heard this, I was at awe. Was this really the same guy? Why make something so different? What was it about?

The whole concept is the chinese zodiac, and each animal has its own year, with a little play on the outer fringes to make it a little more his own.

I apologize about not really posting very regularly at the moment. I'm plotting out the way to make sure that i fix that for a long time coming, because I have a ton of gifts that I want to make for you. Thanks for sticking around, and please go right ahead and suggest other artists that you find and think would be a cool share.

ENJOY YOUR RABBIT.

Sufjan Stevens - Enjoy Your Rabbit

Mike Doughty - The Furthermost of Mike Doughty

Band / Artist: Mike Doughty
Year: 2014
Genre: Alternative, Alternative Pop, Acoustic

My Review:
Okay, So I was a HUGE Soul Coughing fan when I was 17 and onward to my 20s. I have never had a point in my life where I was fortunate enough to see them, and I guess now after hearing how horrible it was for the members, I'm sort of melancholy that a band with that much talent had to be so toxic.

Either way, Mike Doughty survived, and now he's out in the world, making music and finding happiness, which is great for him, since everyone needs a little from time to time.

If you've never heard anything from these musicians before, then this is the perfect starter for you, and I think you should get it now.

Mike Doughty - The Furthermost of Mike Doughty

Waves - The Sounds Around Him

Band / Artist: Waves
Year: 2013
Genre: Ambient, Synth Pop, Ambient Techno, Soundscape

My Review:
I got an email during some dead time that I had been thinking about the perfect time to share.

You posted some of my music before and I really appreciated it!  I have recently posted a new album.  Take a look if you are interested.

Seems like this is a pretty great time. Waves was one of the first artists to send me anything for Jumbly, and has my full support as an artist. I enjoy the ambient, soundscape qualities of the first album, and the new one does not disappoint either. It shows his growth.




The best descriptions I could give, is that this has a droning, looping, warped quality that incorporates out of the ordinary sampling in order to make something that builds on the beats and melodies. I'm looking out to see what other music will be coming along from Waves, because it sure does feel right to have on a calm morning like today.

Waves - The Sounds Around Him

KidSyc - Willy Lynch Noah's Ark

Band / Artist: KidSyc
Year: 2013
Genre: Rap, Hip-Hop

My Review:
I have a buddy I went to college with, who has been running around the Savannah music scene since 2005. He makes some pretty kickass hiphop, and I have been meaning to get with him and share his stuff for a while now. Ever since I moved from Savannah, he has been cranking the hell out of music.

Check out the hiphop. Its smooth, vibrant stuff, that doesn't focus on being some kind of constant badass or some sort of kingpin of crime. He has more chill lyrics, that often feel a little more grounded and pleasant to me.

Alright, check him out.

KidSyc - Willy Lynch Noah's Ark

Quickie Mart - Gypsyphonic Disko with Ben Ellman

Band / Artist: Quickie Mart

Year: 2009

Genre: Balkan, Bounce, Hip-Hop, Mashup, Bastard Pop

 My Review:

I've been listening to stuff from quickie mart for a while now, and some other monikers of his. I first caught him in an interview where he was dissecting bounce, its influences, and its role in the future of music, for good or for ill.

He seems like a smart guy, and its interesting that his music of choice be bounce, which I can completely understand, because of what bounce is and represents. It's gritty, shitty, and it doesn't really care. Anyways, here's a comp album of mixtapes I guess, of some hip-hop, some bounce, some rap, and Balkan beats & gypsy music. It's dancey, raunchy, and just fun all the way through.

My mom even danced to it (not like that, sicko.) While we were cooking for thanksgiving meal.

So yeah, take that.

Quickie Mart - Gypsyphonic Disko with Ben Ellman

_yi. - OTNJ_B

Band / Artist: _yi
Year:2013
Genre: Microhouse, Glitch

 My Review:
This stuff is always so interesting to listen to. Its in the same vein as Akufen or  , with wildly glitchy beats bouncing all over the place. This one is great, because it builds itself up to wonderous grooves and melodies, made from chipped-apart songs all over the net.


http://mynameisyiannis.com/
i make music and sound for media, but mostly, for fun.
"A blend of JPOP, electro house, jazz, clicks 'n' cuts and others."
glitch pop / electro house / acid jazz
Yiannis Ioannides is the musician that makes it all. It sure is wonderful. He has his own site too, here.
www.yiannisioannides.com
electronic acid jazz cut up electro house glitch pop house jazz fusion jpop sampling

_yi. - OTNJ_B

Lindsay Fuller - Live @ Hearya

Band / Artist: Lindsay Fuller
Year: 2012
Genre: Acoustic, Singer/Songwriter

My Review:
LOOK HERE.

A good album of some sort of live acoustical female music. Its good, heartfelt, and worth a listen.
She has been doing music around quietly, and is originally from Alabama. Here is her website.




I won't keep up with the hoopla, you should just check it out. Because its nice. Scroll halfway down the page and save the tracks.

Lindsay Fuller - Live @ Hearya

La Masheillaise 2, La Revolu'son Francaise

Band / Artist: Various Artists
Year: 2013
Genre: Bastard Pop, Mashup

My Review:
STRAIGHT OUTTA RIO! FR-wait what? French Mashups? Well okay, lets give it a shot.. and its GOOOD!! I got this through the Bootie Rio collective, which is what left me confused as to why there was a French mashup compilation on there, but who cares if the music is good right?

Okay so I'll admit that I do find a couple tracks to be a little meh, but its a good set of songs that I have admittedly never heard, mashed against songs I've heard for ages, and it comes out as a fresh mashup album, something that can get hard to find every once in awhile.

La Masheillaise 2, La Revolu'son Francaise

Big Spider's Back - Ssoft EP

Band / Artist: Big Spider's Back

Year: 2014
Genre: Indie Electronic, House

My Review:
I have an earlier album of theirs, and I loove it. Great rolling rhythms and melodies layered with some obscure stories in the lyrics. Here is the press release.

 HH019 :: Big Spider's Back - Ssoft EP // name-your-price download here.
Also available on digital stores, ie: iTunes, Amazon, Boomkat, Juno, Bleep, Beatport.

~ "Ssoft" premiere on Pitchfork ~ "Charm School" download via XLR8R ~

Combining classic house and techno rhythms with playful, synth-based melodies and the dense, psychedelic atmospherics reminiscent of previous Big Spider’s Back releases, Ssoft is the Durham, NC-based artist’s strongest statement yet. The EP’s production was initially inspired by Roland’s quintessential line of 707, 808 and 909 drum machines, yielding a classic electronic sound combined with contemporary influences, ranging from Kompakt’s soft-focus ambience, to the skittering electronics of artists such as Luke Abbott and Four Tet.

So go check it out, you won't be disappointed.

Big Spider's Back - Ssoft EP

Bro Safari & UFO! - Animal LP

Band / Artist: Bro Safari & UFO!
Year: 2014
Genre: Trap, Electro, Brostep

My Review:
BRO SAFARIIIIIII! I like this guys stuff. Every time I bump into his weird mix of electro/trap/whatever I end up enjoying myself. This time is no different.

So…

Here it is. The album that we've been talking about for over a year. Scheduling conflicts be damned, we made it happen! Yes, the process was long, and at times it was even a little grueling, but we stuck to our guns and we couldn't be happier with the results.

Originally, we created about 16 tracks for the album, and then we narrowed it down to the songs that you have in front of you today. It was important to us that we create a collection of music that crossed multiple styles and genres, yet told a coherent story. It's not an easy thing to do, but we feel like we pulled it off by using themes, samples, techniques and by consciously assessing what did and did not work together.

We feel like there is something for everyone on this record and we're very pleased with the fact that we can offer this to everyone for free. All we ask is that you listen to it with an open mind, share it with your friends and come say hello whenever we play a show in your city.

So, once again - Thank you to each and every person that showed us support over the last few years. We love working together, and have already discussed plans for a follow up album.

For now, enjoy ANIMAL!

- Bro Safari & UFO!

Social Media:
Bro Safari:
Twitter: @brosafari
Facebook: www.facebook.com/brosafari
Soundcloud: @brosafari

UFO!:
Twitter: twitter.com/itsufo
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ItsUFO
Soundcloud: @itsufo

And there it is. An album of fun, driven dance music. I am all about it. Hopefully you'll keep seeing that weird face that bro safari uses more in the future.

Bro Safari & UFO! - Animal LP
https://soundcloud.com/brosafari/sets/bro-safari-ufo-animal-lp

Cloud Mouth - Songs From the sewer

Band / Artist: Cloud Mouth
Year: 2011
Genre: Experimental, Lo-fi

My Review:
This is his older stuff, but I like it more than any of the other albums I’ve heard. Its best described as an experimental indie rock band. There are drum machines, vocal harmonies between the singers recordings, accordions, clarinets,  saxophones, god I don’t even know. One thing about the music is that he really enjoy disjointed and strange rhythms, as well as some very odd melodies.

Cloud Mouth is the name of 2 bands.. one is Shawn Jackinsky a single guy working on his own with all of these instruments, and the other is a punk band that formed in 2007 and retired 4 years later (I'll give them a little review as well in the next post).

He's got a lot of other music that he made, but a little hunting will bring it to your fingertips if you would like to find it now.

Cloud Mouth - Songs From the sewer

Moshboy - The Pirate Bay Bundle

This post is a little different from the normal, since it isn't music.I heard a story of a man curating a large set of indie vidja games and releasing it via pirate bay. I looked it up, and it was real. They were all gotten freely by their respective creators as I understand, so it fits the Jumbly motto.

Here is an Ars Technica review on it

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/03/pirate-bay-bundle-shares-101-little-known-indie-games-via-bittorrent/

SO here I am,  first day back, giving you video games. Hope you enjoy them.


The Pirate Bay Bundle

BACK!

I am BACK!

Sorry... After some pretty horrendous changes that happened in my life, I was so swamped with a million little things going on, that I just couldn't reach out to finish a post. Then my phone broke, which has kept me from doing a little at a time to make sure that i can write post reviews in spare time. But that time has now passed, and I'm getting back on the horse and riding again (phone is still busted though).

For my friends who supported me through my pain, thank you. For the people who haven't seen much here yet, come on in, and take a look around!

0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0

First thing I'd like to say is that I missed doing this. I pretty much listened to this for at least a month, almost on repeat.



0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0 6 0 9 0


Now that I have some time, I want to get back to doing some of what I love, so I'm going to  try to pack a few little projects in for the blog as things with life and work seem like they are stepping out of the way a little.

I'll get some posts worked on now.

Thanks for sticking with me!

(The other Yarn) Yarn - Live at The Willow Tree Coffee House and Music Room (February 8, 2014)

Band / Artist: Yarn
Year: 2014
Genre: Indie Folk, Indie Alternative, Live

My Review:
I decided, fuck it. If I'm gonna search through all this music to find info on one Yarn, may as well go ahead with the other as well. And it was very much enjoyable.

here is a writeup in them

Brooklyn-based Americana/Alt-Rock band Yarn‘s sound owes as much to Gram Parsons and Earl Scruggs as to Jerry Garcia and Exile On Main Street-era Rolling Stones. Following in a fine tradition that includes forward thinking roots bands like The Flying Burrito Brothers and New Riders of The Purple Sage, Yarn weaves roots music idioms into a fresh sound that turns on hipsters and fans of country music alike, with technically impressive song-crafting and universal tales from the road of life.

What I'd say, they have a pleasant "Grateful Dead meets Iron & Wine" kind of thing going on that I was really grooving to. I've been hoping to pick up more stuff that would fit within this point of my life. Alright, more music on the way soon.

Yarn - Live at The Willow Tree Coffee House and Music Room (February 8, 2014)

Yarn - Inner Expedition

Band / Artist: Yarn
Year: 2013
Genre: Ambient Psy, Psytrance, Ambient Techno

My Review:
A good little Chillout album that made me think of ambient psytrance. I used this for a relax album for my whole Christmas vacation, and for my plane trip to and from DC recently (great time).

The musicians are a producer duo from Budapest that have been making music since I'm not sure quite when. Apparently there is another band named yarn, so I can't get info from this version without some serious work.

I'm inspired by this album to work on a little project that I believe you might enjoy in the near future. I'll let you know about it when there is time to get it finished, but rest assured that it'll be a good one.


Yarn - Inner Expedition

Old Splendifolia - Utterly Heartbreaking (EP version)

 

Year: 2013
Genre: Acoustic, Indie Folk

My Review:
Despite the name, I can't say anything about this was utterly heartbreaking. It was calm, and maybe a little sad, but I was pleased. This band is a set of musicians under the La bèl netlabel. They are trying to grow and hope for support to build up a larger presence. I figure I'll give a shout out to them, because anything that brings more vibrance to the music scene is good in my book.

Here's the band describing the album.

During live sessions in the summer house, the woods of Brandenburg and the homes of friendly musicians delicate pieces evolved, capturing random environmental noises and exceptional interaction of the artists. 

The chamber music-ish pieces flow moment to moment painting scenes with tones. The Song Poems seek their fortune through poetic views of the world, leap to the Earth's perishable inhabitants' defense, for whom the consistent rational explanations for a world so compelling in its richness, in its confusion, in its complexities impregnable from comprehension give little satisfaction. So, let's cast light on the many small details, sense-nourishing observations, confusion, the fear that tears me, which overwhelmed you as well, and on the comfort that She granted you, so you now could come to my aid. Enter with the ears and not only with the latter, into the micro-extracts from rich litera- and orature, elocuted by the inner desire to keep the amazement and the breath of life, to light the inner warmth, which beards the global one, with filigree vehemence.

Yes.

So, yeah. Enjoy.

Old Splendifolia - Utterly Heartbreaking (EP version)

Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip - The Abstract & The Dragon

Year: 2013
Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap

My Review:
There are a ton of reviewers who already gave this their breakdown, so I'm gonna keep this simple.

Fresh stuff from Busta. He's still out there making work, and now he's working with Q-tip on this new mixtape. Good Shit.

Just like you'd expect, this isn't exactly the same as his old stuff,  but it is a mixtape, so its retro as fuck in some parts, even racing back to the very early style before the end. Busta Rhymes and Q-tip finally got together and made some shit happen. It was really good to hear them back on the scene.



Busta Rhymes & Q-Tip - The Abstract & The Dragon

Post schedule

Personal things are going to be getting in the way of my yearly Vday mixtapes, so I'm going to wiggle the schedule of other posts for a bit. Thanks for the patience, and I hope that all of you who celebrate it have a wonderful time with your significant other.

Keep it real.

Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I

Band/Artist: Nine Inch Nails
Year: 2008
Genre: Score, Industrial, Ambient, Instrumental

My Review:
I'm pretty much sure that anyone who would be stopping by my site would have already had this release, but just to be sure, I figure I'll share.

About a year before the time that "The Slip" was released, Trent Reznor had gone somewhat silent while in the studio on an experiment with some collaborators. What came out of that experiment was this boxed set. It was just around the time of the "pay-as-you-will" experiments from radiohead and so forth, and long before Reznor went crawling back to the big record labels instead of really doing something revolutionary.

This is the first disk out of a set of 3 disks, so if you love it, spend the 5 dollars to get the full set. There is artwork that comes with the pack, and you aren't really being mislead, the free download is a good quality one.

This album is a gigantic step away from the rest of the Nine Inch Nails discography or radio hits. There are no lyrics except for humming or singing at any point during the full 3 CD set. They are all built like the scores to some non-existant film, and range in emotion and composition from rage filled industrial rock, to ambient pieces that sound nearly meditative.

 Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts

Neuro Trash - This Apocalypse Was Less Fun Than We Thought It Would Be

Year: 2013
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Instrumental, Neo-Folk

My Review:

After they had destroyed all the humans, the robots felt terribly alone

That quote is all to be said about this album by the band. As I've recently been doing a crap job of keeping up with singles posts and submitted albums for artists, this one slipped through the cracks for a while. I'm just now getting back to it, and realizing that I needed a good softer folky album to post on here. I wrote a whole review for this, and can't find it, which pisses me off.

The range of instruments used is very impressive, especially since I can't remember the last time I heard someone play a saw. The sound of this overall its a somber, melodic album that works great for a relaxing few minutes of your day, or trying to sit in that little gray corner of your mind for a while.

Neuro Trash - This Apocalypse Was Less Fun Than We Thought It Would Be

The melodies in this one are so hypnotizing to me, but I can feel a mental drive toward digital music after listening to it for a while. I guess it means I should listen to their earlier EP, which will balance it all out. You might want to as well, so here it is.

Neuro Trash - Blokoppy

Marsan - Music For Agoramaniacs

Band / Artist: Marsan

Year: 2014

Genre: Chillout, Ambient Techno, Electro-Acoustic

My Review:

I got a new email from a fresh friend. At least he's a friend now. He wanted to share his music with the blog. I listened through and I like it, so I'll let him describe it all, and I'll just share.

"I'm a 21 y/o Chicagoan who's performed in a few local DIY bands (shy guy says, acker). In late 2012, however, I decided to use the resources around me to write music on my own. All parts were written, performed, recorded and edited entirely by myself.

I began with some minimal repetitive pieces for a buddy's film. I recorded some ambient/IDM tracks, but used all live instrumentation, which, to my surprise, gave it a unique energetic or "live" feel. I got the idea to keep using this technique but with a larger variety styles (Post-punk drumming and vocals on "Strain Theory", pop melodies on "Linoleum", "Dominoes" or "Snow Day", saturated jazz/hip-hop on "reawaken", and so on). The result was an intricate, diverse album, which, thanks to my steady lineup of instruments & effects, managed to flow seamlessly.

The album art imposes a setting for the album: a shopping mall. The massive, labyrinth-like landscape is the perfect launch point. The songs navigate through the complex to different rooms and corridors - spaces of all different sizes, moods, attitudes... Really this album is for people who are, like me, obsessed with open space.

Thus the title - Agoramania: a mania for open spaces

Because the whole project began as an attempt to imitate electronic music with acoustic (or "live") instruments, I continued the theme with the artwork. The cover was made by printing out mall blueprints with different colors and photo effects. Then, inspired by the layer options in photoshop, I hand cut and pasted the prints. In the "alternate" cover, I held up the painting of the room, floorboards and background at varying distances and snapped a picture.

I was considering naming the album "Digital by hand" after the technique, but instead used the name for a track. In line with the theme of shopping malls, the lyrics deal with consumerism, contradictory media messages, manipulation, etc."

Alright, well I hope that clears it all up for you. I'm going to be listening to this one for a while. I'll keep a free version of the album online as long as he'd like.

Marsan - Music For Agoramaniacs

The Quick Brown Fox - SPEEDKORE 4 KIDZ!

Year: 2009
Genre: Speedcore

My Review:
HooooooooBOY! Maybe like 2% of the people checking this post out won't absolutely hate it. There are a ton of days where I would be turning this right the fuck off, but every once in a blue moon, I get the itch, and for a whole day I will listen to nothing but Harsh Noise, Speedcore, Freejazz, Frenchcore, Sludge Metal, and pretty much anything else that is dissonant, grinding, and likely to piss off anyone within the audible vicinity.

I'm always sad that so many of these genres have no way to sustain themselves, because the makers of each little subset usually can't stand members of the others. If we could all just get along, we could create the most aggravating and horrifyingly noisey live event on the planet. It should have a great name too, like BigBadFest, or COREFEST! *XxCoReFeSt!xX*, Where you mosh in mud all day, chill with Harsh Drone for sundown, and then dance horribly under strobe lights all night  .. Actually, that sounds like it would be kind of awesome, and THE WORST PLACE TO DO DRUGS ON THE PLANET.

Sorry if this one seems dissapointing to some, but I felt like I needed to spice up the mix a little. I might start doing at least one of these kinds of oddball posts every other month. I just wanted to warn you that this post isn't for everyone, but for the few that love this kind of ... stuff...  But I'll make a dare. If more than 5 people can actually listen to this thing from beginning to end without stopping it, and comment in the post, I will post at least 1 humiliating photo of myself.

Godspeed.

The Quick Brown Fox - SPEEDKORE 4 KIDZ!

Kaninchen - Broke up

Year: 2013
Genre: Field Recordings, Spoken Word., Post-Rock, Acoustic

My Review:
This one showed up in my email inbox quite a while ago. I promised to share it, and now, I'm going to keep my word. Hopefully better late than never.

An unusual album to get sent in an email. It feels like one part sound pieces and field recording, one part acoustic pieces that I might call sadcore, and one part spoken word. It's about failing relationships, and the feelings of those moments of breakup. I like how some of the field recordings tie into the music, and how the differences in style really bring out the point they were driving at emotionally.

I can definitely say that there has been a theme of sadder stuff on my playlist for a while, and I've picked this one up a few times. I hope you check it out, and thanks to the band for sharing it. If you guys want to do an interview with some more work, drop me a line.

 Kaninchen - Broke up

Singles Posts - Kitty Cash, K.Flay, Son Lux, Aesop Rock & Blockhead, SKOGSRÅ

Kitty Cash - Love The Free


A good mixtape that falls between glitchy Alt Pop and R&B. There are a lot of electronic influences in this, and it takes a song or two before it really gets rolling in my opinion. Once it gets going, I enjoyed it, except for the between-song sample that would remind you that Kitty Cash made the mixetape. Advice for all the mixers out there, if you need to remind people who made the set, then you are definitely doing something wrong.

K.Flay - Seen it all (Jake Bugg cover)

This one is a bit different from the usual K.Flay hippityhop. Its a softer, sadder, slower song, which is obviously going much more for the alt-pop sound of The Knife, which is fitting, since its about someone seeing a guy get knifed by a gang at a house party. I like this, but it sucks for the dude getting knifed.

Son Lux - Easy (Arandel Remix)


Speaking of The Knife, this song sounds a whole lot like stuff you might hear from them if they stayed on the path that "Silent Shout" and "Deep Cuts" were headed. This would be a soft track you would hear somewhere in the middle, and it is the kind that you grow to appreciate even more than the bigger tracks around it.

Aesop Rock & Blockhead - Try not to die

Ah, good ol' Aesop Rock. This one is an older b-side that he and Blockhead made in the early 2000s. If you like "Float" and "Appleseed" then you are getting a track you'll like.

SKOGSRÅ - Now You See Me

What a great track to round out the post with. This one is sort of poppy, and really vibrant, funky, and just overall good for grooving. In fact, I'd say this track sounds a LOT like newer stuff you hear from Daft Punk, and who the hell doesn't love that? Whats best, is that it stays interesting and pleasing for nearly 7 minutes. I really enjoy it.


Alright. Dance like nobody is watching. Have fun.

Eddie Condon & His Orchestra - 30 Selected Works

Band / Artist: Eddie Condon & His Orchestra
Year: 1929-1944
Genre: Big Band, Jazz, Ragtime

My Review:
I shared a single recording from Eddie Condon a while back, and it was too dancey for me to pass up sharing more. 1930's Big Band Jazz really is some of the best jazz.

There are a ton of reasons I love old jazz, especially living in New Orleans, but I'd definitely say that it isn't hurting me that the music has all come into the public domain now. The downside with it is that you don't really have tracks numbered into an album, because often enough, it is a compendium of restored and digitized records. A lot of my friends have talked about how impressive this style of music is, and when they have such varied tastes, I'd say that means something.

Eddie Condon & His Orchestra - 30 Selected works

Pretty Lights - A Color Map of the Sun & A Color Map of the Sun Remixes

Band / Artist: Pretty Lights
Year: 2013
Genre: Electro, Nu Breaks, Jazz, Funk Techno, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul

My Review:
"A Color Map Of The Sun has been nominated for the Best Dance/Electronica Album GRAMMY"

This is awesome news, because I've been listening to Pretty Lights for the past couple of years. I'm excited to see him blowing up the world with his music, AND HE'S STILL GIVING IT AWAY. Okay, to be fair, you can also buy it (and you probably should throw him a few bucks since he works so hard), and there are links to that on his website here, http://prettylightsmusic.com/

As far as the music goes, it is a different sound and approach than the last Pretty Lights works. I think that for this one, he had started with a beat, then had artists come in and make music over it, only for him to come back through, mix and process their work, then do his magic over top of the whole thing. The end result is a wobbly, glitchy, soulful album that teeters between sad and active, with big old style jazz elements throughout.

Pretty Lights - A Color Map of the Sun (Disc 1)


Here's the remix album.

Pretty Lights - A Color Map of the Sun Remixes

If you want solid old school jazz, definitely come back in 5 days, but if techno-jazz is your jam, then by all means, jam out. Personally, I think this post and the next would go well alongside one another, in an odd couple sort of way

Banned Books - Mission Creep

Band / Artist: Banned Books
Year: 2009, 2010
Genre: Experimental Rock, Indie Alternative, Avant-pop, Noise-Rock

My Review:
YEAAAAAAAAAAAH. Imagine you're an Indie-pop group, then get really pissed off and jaded with the shitshow of pop, and hanging out and listening to bands like Wolf Eyes, Merzbow, and Dog Fashion Disco, and The Blood Brothers for a little while. Start liking the idea of sounding that way, but don't quite be sure that you want to just make noise, after all, you do have nearly a whole album recorded. You go back to the drawing board with what you have, AND THIS COMES OUT OF THE SAUSAGE GRINDER.


That is what I'd imagine was going on with this album.

Aside from my BS description, lets talk about the band themselves.

They started out as a 3 man New Jersey band, lost a member, and moved to Philly. Now they call themselves a super-duo. They don't keep a lot of information out in the public about when they formed or when they moved.

Here is their exceptionally informative website.
http://www.bnndbks.net/


Anyhow, these albums are both a little short, so I thought it'd be best to share both of them.

Banned Books - Mission Creep

This one is Man Maker, a more groove laden album. They switch tempo a lot in this one.

Banned Books - Man Maker

And ON TO 2014! FFFFFFFFFFUCK YEAH!