I thought I had already made a post about this band, to which I was quite ready to link within this very post. Turns out, my slackerness is even greater than I thought, as that post was basically in my ‘todo’ queue, and did not technically even exist. Nevertheless, this CD came out in the interim, so here we go.

Someone described this band as “world-punk”, and I can’t really disagree, though the concept of “world” music seems to bring to mind bamboo flutes and whale songs – not exactly the most thrilling fare, generally. This record is a collaboration with Tamir Muskat, so it’s got a crazy Middle Eastern bent to it, which seems immediately reminiscent of Balkan Beat Box. They’ve never shied away from unconventional rhythms and instruments, leaving surprises on each disc, but on The Golden Hour, it feels like even more of a reinvention.

This isn’t particularly surprising, given how frontman Tod A recently “took a protracted leave of absence from an idiot-run America, the cut-throat music business, and the Western world in general,” visiting Thailand, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia. His odyssey was certainly productive, and I hope they continue in their current direction.

From The Golden Hour
Borneo – (MP3, 5.0 MB)
Hey Clown – (MP3, 5.0 MB)
Electric City – (MP3, 6.5 MB)
Already Gone – (MP3, 5.6 MB)

From Ponzi Scheme
So Long, Superman – (MP3, 3.5 MB)
Another Perfect Catastrophe – (MP3, 4.0 MB)

From Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology – (MP3, 3.9 MB)

I have yet to find a way to purchase any of their recordings, so needless to say I downloaded the tracks instead. Not to be confused with the similarly named Suburban Legends I wrote about earlier, these crazy dudes from California were only around a short while in the 90’s, but they put out some ridiculously good music before succumbing to inner-band squabbles.

Commonly associated with the 3rd wave ska scene (most people would know their name from Reel Big Fish’s song S.R.), they really aren’t a ska band, as even their ska numbers deviate quite a bit from the usual standards. They aren’t heavy on horns at all, and they make inspired use of their guitars to blend in funk, rock, punk, and even a little country. It is hard to really pin them down to one style, but with them that’s a good thing.

Plus, they’ve got some interesting lyrics, like in the ludicrously cathartic 99 Degrees: “I’m feeling 99 degrees, and I don’t mean Fahrenheit! It’s Celsius, you oaf! When I hear your wicked words, they choke me up until I’m blue, just like the rope I’d use if I was gonna strangle you!”. Fortunately, they are not nearly as angry on their other songs, and are able to effortlessly phase between serious (Coming Out of the Woodwork) and goofy topics (Gameshow, “Pat Sajak is a saviour, he always has a vowel for sale!”). A shame they were so short lived!

Since you’d probably have a hell of a time finding their recordings, I’ll be going a little overboard with links on this one.

Downloads

From Suburban Rhythm
Lust – (MP3, 4.9 MB)
Coming Out of the Woodwork – (MP3, 5.4 MB)
My Sister Sam – (MP3, 4.6 MB)
Gameshow – (MP3, 3.8 MB)
99 Degrees – (MP3, 4.5 MB)
Tension – (MP3, 6.8 MB)

For some reason, blogging’s become a higher priority for me lately. Partly because I’ve got more music, partly because we’ve got an adoring fanbase of 1 person, but either way, this posting frenzy won’t last (it never does), so enjoy it while it does! Reverend Glasseye is kind of a musical enigma in that you can’t really pigeonhole them too well, they sound like too many different things at once. Part gypsy, part cabaret, part punk, part “insert genre,” it’s amazing how they can pull it all together into genuinely enjoyable music. I can’t believe that it’s taken me this long to realize that 17 Lashes is a freaking amazing song, and my favorite of the good Reverend’s. I’ll give you 17 lashes to the face if you don’t like it!

Downloads

From Our Lady Of The Broken Spine
17 Lashes – (MP3, 8.7 MB)
King Of Men – (MP3, 4.4 MB)

From Black River Falls
Seven Little Girls – (MP3, 6.4 MB)
Three Ton Chain – (MP3, 2.9 MB)

Based out of Mexico City, the closest genre classification I can come up with is Spanish punk-polka. I could seriously leave it at that, but then Hugh would probably yell at me.

Their Myspace describes their sound as a range from “euphoric polkas, melancholic waltzes to punk, rock and passages of classical music”. They also come highly recommended by Denise Petersen (the wife of Erik Petersen, i.e. Mischief Brew), and I seem to have a thing for any bands distributed by, or even just vaguely associated with Fistolo Records.

They also have some fine klezmer clarinet, and a penchant for instrumentals. As such, Hugh will probably hate them. They do have at least one member hailing from Oregon, though.

Downloads

From Infausta Noticia
Sirentitas en el Espacio – (MP3, 3.3 MB)
Funeral del tio Perverso – (MP3, 4.9 MB)
Vida Propia – (MP3, 3.5 MB)
El Circo del Siglo – (MP3, 5.3 MB)

While I have mentioned this band before, a mere mentioning here and there is not nearly enough! They are one of the finer gypsy punk groups out there, and certainly the best with a female singer. The singer, Yula, also plays bass for the band, and used to play bass for The World/Inferno Friendship Society, so she is no musical slouch! The rest of the band doesn’t have any slouches either, as the guitars and drums on Red will certainly attest. The songs from the EP below are samples, just quite lengthy ones (1:45 each) … they’re also demos of songs that would later appear on their full-length debut, A Carefully Planned Accident. And since I do not feel like ending my streak of mentioning some awesome lyrics, there’s a real keeper on Captain Sensible Calling in the form of “Oh you dour motherfuckers!” Makes me laugh every time.

Downloads

From A Carefully Planned Accident
Red – (MP3, 2.9 MB)

From Nanuchka EP
Anyway – (MP3, 1.6 MB)
Good Well – (MP3, 1.6 MB)

From Drink The Best Wine First
Captain Sensible Calling (feat. Jack Terricloth) – (MP3, 3.1 MB)

Sometimes, when the random music pickings aren’t so good, I’ll get lazy and just listen to the first song of the album and decide whether or not to get the rest from there. This system is hardly effective for many reasons, one of them being that the first song on any given album is hardly going to be representative of what the band sounds like. In the case of The Causey Way’s Causey vs. Everything, which starts with Te Como Vivo, I thought they were a Latin punk band that was heavily inspired by Le Tigre. I was way off with this estimation, though; The Causey Way isn’t Latin.

Downloads

From Causey vs. Everything
Te Como Vivo – (MP3, 2.8 MB)
Geo Logical Lust – (MP3, 2.9 MB)

If you’ve ever been to rathergood.com, then you may be indirectly acquainted with 7 Seconds of Love (not to be confused with the similarly-named hardcore band). If you haven’t, please go there and watch some of the videos. Most of them have little to do with the band (such as We Like the Moon), but some are basically Joel Veitch’s version of music videos for the band’s songs (such as Ninja).

They are a goofy ska band that manages to have a lot more class, musical skill, and songwriting prowess than any other goofy ska band I have ever heard. And even with their DIY attitude, their audio fidelity is excellent. They do not have a label or have any official pressings, but due to a recent settlement with Coke (a subsidiary ripped off their Ninja song without any credits), they’ve now got the funding for an EP in the works. Plus, the rest of the settlement was given to charity, which is just further proof that these dudes are awesome.

All of their music is available freely from their site, both as MP3s and (for some of them) videos. Left unchecked, I would link them all here, but instead I will trust that you will visit their site if you find these few intriguing.

Downloads

Submarine – (MP3, 7.2 MB)
First Drink of the Day – (MP3, 6.9 MB)
Kelp – (MP3, 4.5 MB)
Mzungu – (MP3, 4.8 MB)

I believe this band goes without saying, but since their label’s giving out choice MP3s, I had better use the opportunity to spread them about some more.

They are essentially a punk-ska band with a penchant for flamboyant horn lines, led by some dudes who aren’t even all that into ska. The result is albums that do not follow the typical ska cliches, and which are so brimming with brass bravado that it completely does not matter that you cannot understand anything he is saying. When the Mad Caddies are playing, it is time to dance, and that is just how it goes.

They are about to embark on a rather lengthy tour, and are putting out a new record soon. In the meantime, try out a sampling from every record (barring their debut Quality Soft Core, as it was under a different label). If you like your pop-punk more than your ska, consider anything off of The Holiday Has Been Cancelled or Rock the Plank (the latter is also good if you enjoy the occasional pirate-y tune). And as for me, I do not think a better record could have been made than Duck and Cover, but they come close with their most recent studio work on Just One More. I am hoping against logic that they can somehow continue this trend.

Downloads

From Duck and Cover
Macho Nachos – (MP3, 4.6 MB)

From Just One More
Villains – (MP3, 3.2 MB)

From Rock the Plank
Mary Melody – (MP3, 4.4 MB)

From Live From Toronto: Songs In The Key Of Eh
Drinking for 11 (live) – (MP3, 5.2 MB)

From The Holiday Has Been Cancelled
Something’s Wrong at the Playground – (MP3, 3.0 MB)

On the strength of Multiply and Divide alone, the Soviettes’ latest release would be more than sufficient. Fortunately, the rest of the album follows through on the promise made by this first track; namely, that it is going to be fast, catchy, and fun. I am generally a sucker for energetic punk bands fronted by boisterous women, and luckily with these folks, such a prediliction has not led me wrong.

Rather than barrage you with MP3s today, I will take the more minimalist approach and hope that simply the opening track will be enough to pique your interest.

Downloads

From LP III
Multiply and Divide – (MP3, 3.4 MB)

There have not been any posts in a good while, but that is because I didn’t know The Epoxies had any MP3s up (OK, that is not the only reason). If I had been privy to the knowledge that Radiation was just sitting out there on the Internet, waiting for me to pimp it like Hank Hill pimps sweet lady propane, then pimping would have commenced previously. I have yet to listen to their self-titled debut as much as Stop The Future, but again, their debut does not have Radiation on it (not a good quote to take out of context). As opposed to most of the catchy songs whored around the world, this one has lyrical value, can you believe it? With lyrics like “I know I’d know the difference somehow / If I was being rearranged / I’m sure if I had been reprogrammed / Something somehow surely would seem strange!” you just can’t not be hooked. Aaaaaaand they’re from Portland. I am all about the Portland bands, except for when I am not.

Downloads

From Stop The Future
Radiation – (MP3, 3 MB)