Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band EP

For Joy, even though she used to make fun of Joanna Newsom ;)

Long story short, Joanna Newsom plays harp and some keys. I posted her first full length a little while back. While on tour in 2007, she had to cancel 3 shows after losing her voice. To give back to her fans, she recorded this demo with some other folks, reworking 2 of her older songs and writing one song that's exclusive to this record. The version of "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" on this record is one of my favorite recordings she's ever done. Here's a youtube video of that song and below that is a link to the record. GET THEM SHITS!!!!!!



***Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band EP***

Metallica - Ride The Lightning@33RPM

You know the record. Here it is SLOWED DOWN, making one of the greatest metal records of all time EVEN BETTER!!!!! Best tracks are 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' and 'Trapped Under Ice'. Just sooooo fuckin heavy! Also, with some of leads slowed down, I may be able to learn a few Kirk Hammett solos.
Seriously, get this. This shit is soooo heavy and so jammin'!

CRY OUT! TRAPPED UNDER ICE! (DOWNLOAD!)

Low - 'Trust' and 'The Great Destroyer'

Hmmmmm...where to start with Low.....

In 1993, when grunge and post-punk ruled the masses, the slowcore/shoegaze scene was gradually churning and collecting velocity. My Bloody Valentine and Ride had found their way into hipster's tape players, and in little ol' Duluth, Minnesota, Low was also starting to think similarly. Singer/guitarist Alan Sparhawk and his wife, drummer Mimi Parker, joined with one of Alan's previous band mates, John Nichols to create a very quiet, minimal music that still demanded attention, without being fast, loud and aggressive. And since Low's first release in 1994, they've been building layer after layer upon that idea. Low has evolved considerably from the very quiet and solemn debut, I Could Live In Hope, but with each album they seem to explore a slightly different side of themselves. Every record however shares the common thread of Sparhawk and Parker's amazing vocal harmonies. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes haunting, their vocal blend is always interesting. You'll find that Parker often sings the lower register of a harmony, with her husband singing the higher parts of the harmony in a beautiful almost-falsetto.

Low has a bunch of records, and I'll probably eventually post them all, including their newest record, set to be released next month (April 2011). Until then, here are two records for you to dive right in.

Low - Trust (2001)
Low - The Great Destroyer (2005)

TWILIGHT Discography

The black metal scene in the US has been known to be pretty suspect. Very few US black metal bands shine through the haze, and this band contains members of some of those elite few that push the limits of their music. Featuring Wrest (Leviathan and Lurker of Chalice), Malefic (Xasthur), Blake Judd (Nachtmystium), Sanford Parker (Buried at Sea and Minsk), Aaron Turner (Hydra Head records, Isis, Old Man Gloom), Imperial (Krieg), and Stavros Giannopolous (The Atlas Moth), this 'supergroup' was golden from the moment it was conceived. If those names do nothing for ya, you obviously have a lot to learn about good metal. Lucky for you, I'm here to help.

Commissioned by Total Holocaust Records in 2005, the first Twilight record (lineup: Wrest, Malefic, Blake Judd, and Imperial) is quite reminiscent of Leviathan and Xasthur, mostly thrashy and raw, occasionally taking a turn for the atmospheric, and more depressive side of things. An excellent record, and exactly the caliber of music you'd expect from the parties involved. After the self titled release, Malefic left the band, and in 2009 in came Parker and Turner. 2010 saw the release of Twilight's second record, Monument to Time End, which definitely shows the addition of Aaron Turner and Sanford Parker. This time releasing from Southern Lord records, you can hear the evolution of a band that was originally intended to be a "black metal supergroup", into an unstoppable juggernaut of awesome. Much like Isis and newer Nachtmystium, Monument to Time End shows a much stronger focus on blending several styles and approaches to metal music, creating a record that is incredibly engaging and impossible to categorize. If you are into any of the bands I name-dropped, grab these records up, and if you have no idea who any of the bands I name-dropped are, you've got a lot of catching up to do. GET ON IT!

Twilight - Twilight
Twilight - Monument to Time End

RIP Nate Dogg

Hip Hop lost a true legend yesterday. This is my favorite jam he ever did. Rock it, smoke a blunt, and honor a true G.

The Degenerics - Generica

The best hardcore record from the past 15 years that you have never heard. It's probably better than 99% of the ones that you have. Released on deadalive records in 2000, this record was clearly inspired by the Bad Brains. No, it doesn't sound exactly like the HR and crew, but listening to it, you can tell that the Brains were a humongous influence. So many horrid records are revered from this time period while a gem like this has gone largely unnoticed. I guess i should just be thankful that I have had the chance to listen to this for over a decade now, and hopefully anyone that grabs this will get the same enjoyment I have. Hands down, the best NJ hardcore since 76% Uncertain or the Misfits.

Jam

GET THIS SHIT AND RAGE YOUR FUCKING FACE OFF!

Glasses

I came across these guys yesterday while blog surfing, and I was so impressed and stoked I had to repost this for you guys. Glasses is a genre-blurring German hardcore/crust band in the vein of Tragedy, Ghostlimb, and Kylesa. While thrashy and punk as fuck, these dudes drop some unexpected riff bombs every few minutes, giving a much appreciated changeup from your standard paint-by-numbers hardcore. Though female-fronted, I don't think any listeners will complain, as her scream is pretty fuckin' filthy. If you are into hardcore, punk, or the metals, I highly recommend checking this band out. They are a serious standout in a sea of Discharge clones.

Here is their self titled debut from 2009, and the follow up from late 2010. Dig it.

Glasses - Glasses
Glasses - The Ills of Life

Otis Reaper

Otis Reaper are some really good friends of mine from good ol' West Tennessee, who play a gnarly blend of southern-fried, blackened stoner death; the illegitimate child of Immortal and Lynryrd Skynyrd, drunkenly conceived in the parking lot after an Eyehategod show. They just got done recording 5 jam-tacular tracks and they passed them along to me, so I decided to share. You should definitely check this out if you are into heavy music. Their music is pretty unique, and I really want people to hear it.

 

DOWNLOAD IT! 

Andrew WK - I Get Wet

Put a dick in your ear, and FUCK what you heard! This is hands-down the greatest party record ever released. It starts off pumpin' and never lets up. Even if you're in a shitty mood, you can roll your windows down and turn this record up and you'll be on top of the world in no time. The unrelenting jam is undeniable. Get this and TURN IT UP LOUD!!

DON'T STOP LIVIN' IN THE RED!!