Archive for February, 2008
I have a real nice treat for you this morning. London’s Alberta Cross has been kind enough to allow us to post their new EP, available only in the UK, for free to our readers for a limited time. The first two tracks are new to me and the last two are acoustic versions […]
Marah, one of our generations most underappreciated bands, recently released their sixth album on Yep Roc Records. I have a weird relationship with Marah. I loved Kids In Philly, was ambivalent towards their next two releases and had all but written them off. Then in ‘05 they released If You Didn’t Laugh You’d Cry. At first I didn’t pick it up, but then Steven King wrote a piece saying it was the best thing since sliced bread and fellow Gooner, Nick Hornby, started touting them. Thankfully I broke down and downloaded it because they were back to their original sound that attracted me in the first place.
Fast forward to 2008’s Angels Of Destruction. I cranked it up on the day it was released and the first two songs sort of came and went. I felt underwhelmed and feared for the worst. Then the brothers Bielenko went on a seven song run that, simply put, is out of this world. Each song is different from the one before and it’s impossible to choose a favorite. “Wild West Love Song” has a riff that would make Dire Straits proud and the title track stands for all that is good about rock and roll. The song is made to be be played in a bar while you and your drunk friends dance and sing without a care in the world.
All in all, an outstanding release by a proper American rock and roll band. Do yourself a favor and make it part of your collection. At least go to the Yep Roc site and listen to the free stream. I am sure you’ll see it my way.
Marah - Angels of Destruction (courtesy of Rock Town Hall)
Marah - Wild West Love Song (courtesy of Aquarium Drunkard)
XM Tracks: Jaymay - “Sea Green, See Blue”
0 Comments Published by oz February 27th, 2008 in MP3's, XM Tracks.HearYa has been full of testosterone lately. It’s time to mix in some indie tunes from the ladies.
Once again, XM Radio has introduced me to an artist that I wouldn’t have found otherwise. Jaymay is a New York poet and folk singer-songwriter that reminds me a little of Alela Diane. Check out “Sea […]
Considering it was Ben Folds Five’s second release, Whatever and Ever Amen (specifically “One Angry Dwarf”), that caused my musical epiphany as a child, it’s not surprising that I’ve fallen for The Bad Plus. Their similar set up (piano, bass, drums) may be the first indication of their similarities, but what caught my ear […]
Ohio natives The Black Keys have been hard at work in the studio with Danger Mouse on a new album called Attack and Release. They just released the first track, “Strange Times.” Look out for the album in April.
You can stream it on MySpace, buy it on iTunes, or get a taste with the […]
Here are the MP3’s from last week:
Eliott BROOD - Second Son
The Big Sleep - Bad Blood
The Big Sleep - Pinkies
From Son of the Tiger:
The Big Sleep Murder
The Big Sleep - You Can’t Touch the Untouchable
From You Today, Me Tomorrow
The Big Sleep - Sleepykid Waltz
The Big Sleep - Sleepykid
The Big Sleep - Fast B
The Big Sleep […]
I realized that I neglected to mention that Grand Archives released their debut album, The Grand Archives, on Tuesday of this week. Hailing from Seattle and formed by guitarist Mat Brooke (previously the guitarist in Carissa’s Weird and Band of Horses), Grand Archives build a sound out of experimentation.
According to their record label Sub Pop, […]
SXSW 2008 Torrent Available, Unofficially
4 Comments Published by oz February 22nd, 2008 in MP3's, SXSW 2008.SXSW decided not to host a torrent of their 2008 showcasing artists this year. For those of you that are missing it, Egregious Thoughts decided to create one himself. You can download it here.
764 artists, 3.5GB, for free.
Bloodshot Records @ SXSW 2008, HearYa + Beer Nuts
2 Comments Published by oz February 21st, 2008 in MP3's, SXSW 2008.It’s no secret that one of our favorite labels is Bloodshot Records out of Chicago. HearYa + Beer Nuts will be one of the sponsors for their SXSW 2008 event, along with Shiner (as in free beer), TimeOut Chicago and The Yellow Tricycle Button Company. Bloodshot’s lineup of American music is sure to put together […]
The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
0 Comments Published by Drinking Buddy February 21st, 2008.
You’ve got to admit it, HearYa has been bringing it lately. Ever since the Amy Winehouse post that prompted an outcry from a vocal portion of the HearYa nation, there have been some really good posts. Top-notch free tracks and posts about bands like Glossary, Ben Sollee, Delta Spirit, Felice Brothers, and Princeton have capped off what I think is one of the best weeks I’ve seen and heard on the site. This week should be no different, starting off with Elliot BROOD, The Big Sleep, AA Bondy, and I might have the icing on the cake (or “the crown on Amy Winehouse’s molar”) with The Helio Sequence’s new album, Keep Your Eyes Ahead.
The Helio Sequence may not win an Album of the Year Grammy such as past winners The Dixie Chicks, Celine Dion, Rob Thomas, or Amy Winehouse, but I can tell you one thing - You won’t be ashamed to say you bought the album 5 or 10 years from now. Heck, it’s been a whopping 4 years since their last album, Love and Distance, but even that record still holds up better than the scaffolding that holds up Aretha Franklin’s breasts.
Apparently the 4-year layoff was due to lead vocalist/guitarist Brandon Summers’ vocal problems. He was hitting the whiskey a little too hard while on tour back in 2004, and had to be relegated to complete silence during the day in order to save his voice for live shows at night. He would have been verrrry tough to beat at “the quiet game.”
But Summers’ and bandmate Benjamin Weikel are back and better than ever. In their latest effort, Keep Your Eyes Ahead, The Helio Sequence takes you on a meandering daydream of folk-inspired pop tunes. From the quiet finger-picking on “Broken Afternoon,” to the more jubilant, foot-tapping “Hallelujah,” The Helio Sequence confidently shows off their range here. It’s the perfect background music for a quiet Saturday morning, or a windows-down drive through the city on a sunny day.
My favorite tracks would have to be the head-nodding “Can’t Say No,” the dreamy “Lately,” and my favorite of all, “Hallelujah”. I’ve also included a great track off their previous album, “Everyone Knows Everyone.” Enjoy!
