Drawn to be erased

Words can't describe my love to for this record. It's soooo good. If you liked Refused - Shape of Punk to come you should check this album out. Released around the same time, this record sounds like it would be the soundtrack to the collapse of human civilization and takeover by machines and technology. Like the soundtrack to 1984 or something. Really cool record, described as being a mix of math rock, hardcore punk and indie rock. Highly influential as bands like Thrice have sited them as a main influence and have even covered them. They broke up in 1999 whilst in the process of signing with Sub Pop and about to go on a tour with At the Drive In. They should have been big. They recently reformed with members of Dillinger Escape Plan and even released a new single recently. They still have it. Someone is supposed to repress the vinyl for this. I'll be waiting patiently for it while the machines take over, because they never died...

Frodus - "And We Washed Our Weapons In The Sea"

Destroyfalseculture. 

 

Life is (still) a pigsty

In honor of Morrissey turning 52 today, I thought it would be only fitting to post some work of his. So here is his eighth solo album Ringleader of the Tormentors. To me this album is underrated and often written off as a mediocre Morrissey album. But to me this album is a favorite. It's got some of my favorite songs like "You Have Killed Me", "The Youngest was the most loved", "I'll Never be Anybody's Hero Now", and of course the 7 minute "Life is a Pigsty". So if you've never checked this album out here it is, or if you've never gotten into solo Morrissey, I'd say that now is the time. Happy Birthday Moz!

Morrissey - "Ringleader of the Tormentors"

 

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She said, "I touched the ground"

More British Shoegaze. The band is called Ride and their first full length album Nowhere is regarded as a classic just as much as My Bloody Valentine's Loveless and Slowdive's Souvlaki when it comes to shoegazer music. They were around in the early 90's and their sound was loud and noisy at times, not far off from punk rock, but they also had slower songs that sounded more like britpop acts of the time. But no matter what they always maintained melody and pop aesthetics. Members actually went on to be in the highly successful Oasis, who I might talk about another day. Until then...

Ride - "Nowhere"

yeppers

A Three Legged Workhorse

Saw this band last night and they were amazing, so I thought I'd post about them. I've never really seen a band like them, they are an experimental post rock band from Texas. So their set had no vocals, no stage banter, no bullshit, they just fucking played and that's what I loved about it. Just lots of textured soundscapes, some buildups, some noise, a bit of glitching, going from calming to explosive in the matter of seconds while remaining beautiful at the same time. All of this with the intensity of any hardcore band I've seen. Highly recommended. For fans of Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, God is an Astronaut, etc. Here is their 2008 self titled album, which is my favorite. Also check out their new album Tunnel Blanket which was just released this year. It's a little less post rock, and more ambient, noisy and experimental, also recommended.

This Will Destroy You - "This Will Destroy You"

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Will nature make a man of me yet?

My girlfriend bought me this record and to be honest I've never heard of it before then. I believe it's just a bootleg of different recordings of songs, I actually think they are more Peel radio sessions, from 1983-1986, so basically right before The Queen is Dead.  Though it's a bootleg I still enjoy it a lot and it's a good mix of songs. We've got some singles: "This Charming Man" and "Sweet and Tender Hooligan", tracks from self titled: "Still Ill" and "Reel Around the Fountain", and a couple tracks from Meat is Murder: "Rusholme Ruffians" and "Nowhere Fast". Those last two actually being two of my favorites, particularly Rusholme which sounds like it's played much faster here. The Smiths can do no wrong, so even if you have the proper releases by them, having some bootleg songs can't hurt.

The Smiths- "The Old Guard - BBC Tapes 1983-1986"

 download.

(by the way this is not my own vinyl rip)

Blue as I write this...

Another one of my favorite bands of all time: Glassjaw. I decided to not post one of the full lengths and in place I'll post an EP of theirs, El Mark. This EP is a bit different then most of the material, the first song "El Mark" is straightfoward typical GJ song, but the next two songs we see Glassjaw opting for a softer side than usual. I would say it sounds like Glassjaw as a lounge band. Really cool. So if you don't have this, check it out and also check out their more recent material as well. In my opinion, Coloring Book might become the best thing they have ever done, but right now it's still a little behind Worship and Tribute. Give it time...

Glassjaw - "El Mark"

(not sure if this is the actual artwork, my itunes has a different one but I'm not sure which is right)

Link removed. Just find it somewhere else it aint hard

Your blood is sweet like wine

Just got finished with a haircut, I hate them, they're always so awkward. So In celebration of my new haircut I am going to do a double post today of some albums I've been listening to a lot recently. 2 extremely different albums, but by one incredible band: Cave In. First I'll give you their first full length Until Your Heart Stops. On this album the band is playing chaotic hardcore/metalcore with the technical precision of bands like Converge, Coalesce and Dillinger Escape Plan. Good stuff for those of you into heavier music. On Cave In's next album Jupiter, they completely changed things up and made an alternative rock album, which today is regarded as "space rock". On this album they take after the band Failure, but I also feel like people into Mars Volta, Thrice, and I know my girlfriend will disagree with this, but Incubus, might be into this album. When it came out a publisher wrote that it was like an "emo metal Radiohead". Laughable description but interesting none the less. Not sure which album I like better, since they sound like completely different bands, but both seem to stand the test of time. Enjoy.

Cave In - "Until Your Heart Stops"

 download.

Cave In - "Jupiter"

 

download. 

Your lips close to my lips

Sitting here studying for my last final, which is tomorrow, and the music of choice tonight is Depeche Mode. So here is their most successful album, 1990's Violator. I feel that this album is a good place to start for those who haven't really listened to them. Black Celebration and Music For the Masses are also favorites of mine, so check those out too in case I never post them. For fans of electronic pop, dance, synth, post punk, etc. Also this is one of my favorite album covers of all time.

Depeche Mode - "Violator"

 

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Tiptoe down to the lonely places

Another no brainer. This album redefined what it meant to be heavy and loud and in my opinion completely changed indie music. I feel like so many bands just try to rip off things that MBV have already done. They are from Ireland and they are the most infamous shoegaze band of all time. I've read that they were so loud at concerts that people would throw up. Not sure if theres truth in that, but I wouldn't mind finding out for myself. Anyone into Shoegaze, Psychedelia, or even punk should (or probably already do) have this album. Here it is. Warning: this album is a beast.
  

My Bloody Valentine - "Loveless"

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I'll always be true to you

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet. My favorite Morrissey album. Every song is classic. If you haven't heard, why don't you find out for yourself.

 Morrissey - "Vauxhall And I"

download.