Live Recording: Sleep - 5.10.09 - All Tomorrow's Parties - England

AWWWWWYEAH! FIRST POST OF THE YEAR!


you've got to already know who this band is

they got back together to play 2 shows (this is the 1st one)

and if you're lucky enough to catch it...they're doing it again in new york as part of all tomorrow's parties american extravaganza on september 3,2010...and they're playing the HOLY MOUNTAIN album in it's entirety

but you probably already knew that

1 - from beyond
2 - proceeds the weedian/nazareth
3 - the druid
4 - some grass
5 - aquarian
6 - evil gypsy/solomon's theme
7 - nain's baptism
8 - cultivator
9 - inside the sun
10 - holy mountain
11 - dragonaut
encore
12 - antarticus thawed*

*=a newly finished song that was written back around the time of the DOPESMOKER album

DL: pt.1
DL: pt.2

Single: Sub Pop Edition #10 Thee Oh Sees - "In The Shadow of the Giant"

This single by The Oh Sees kind of reminds me of Black Mountain blended with campfire music. This is really simple and catchy with a mystical touch. I'm not going to lie to you - the vocals aren't really anything unique and many hipsters across the world probably would (and do) get a hard-on for this but that's just what you can expect from Sub Pop nowadays and there's a certain wierd, eclectic quality about this that makes it enjoyable.. especially in the track "Where The People Do Drugs".

1. In The Shadow Of The Giant
2. She Said (demo)
3. Where The People Do Drugs

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UOAQ5L2Q

Album: Maya Mountains - Hash And Pornography

released 2008

if you don't like both of these things,bro...there's something wrong with you

and if you need some...i'm pretty sure that uncle your mom doesn't like coming around has some

this trio from italy produce something that sounds like a mixture of the melvins...the sword... and kyuss being fronted by someone trying to pull off a stoner ronnie james dio (which comes off kinda sounding like the singer for the band wolfmother)

has your fancy been tickled?

DL: hash and pornography

Split: High On Fire/Ruins

released 2005

high on fire...you already know what they are and what they do

ruins...they were a japanese duo that played something akin to bands like godheadsilo and lightning bolt (i say "were" because bassist sasaki hisashi left back in 2004...and drummer/vocalist tatsuya yoshida is currently touring under the moniker of ruins alone)

not only do you get the jams...you also get a comic to go along with everything

all in all...it's a pretty sweet way to spend a few minutes

DL: high on fire/ruins split

and now...i'm gonna provide you with some visual evidence on just how awesome drummer tatsuya yoshida is (what can i say...i'm a giver...just ask anyone down at the free clinic)

News: High on Fire's "Snakes for the Divine" to be released February 23rd

Mark your calendars and call your mother to tell her the good news... High on Fire's long awaited new album titled "Snakes For The Divine" is now completed and will be released on February 23rd 2010.

"The track listing for HIGH ON FIRE’s Snakes for the Divine is as follows:

1.) “Snakes for the Divine”
2.) “Frost Hammer”
3.) “Bastard Samurai”
4.) “Ghost Neck”
5.) “Fire, Flood & Plague”
6.) “How Dark We Pray”
7.) “Holy Flames of the Fire Spitter”
8.) “Mystery of Helm”

Snakes for the Divine’s album artwork will be brought to life by longtime HIGH ON FIRE cover artist Arik Moonhawk Roper.

Recorded at The Pass Studios in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, Snakes for the Divine is HIGH ON FIRE’s magnum opus, capturing every nuance of the legendary band’s ongoing musical progression and evolution into one of heavy music’s all time greats. Sharper, faster and darker than anything the group has ever recorded, Snakes for the Divine is an unrelenting tour de force, showcasing cult guitar hero Matt Pike’s utterly unique and inventive musicianship and the band’s epic, thundering sound.

-stonerrock.com "

Live Recording: Queens Of The Stone Age - Unplugged & Paralyzed

i think it's safe to say that we're all qotsa fans,yeah?

this was an unplugged gig they did over in berlin,germany back in 2005 (june 10th to be exact)

this is an "unofficially" released slab o'vinyl from germany

1 - broken box
2 - leg of lamb
3 - no one knows
4 - i never came
5 - little sister
6 - burn the witch
7 - long slow goodbye
8 - go with the flow
9 - in my head

DL: unplugged & paralyzed

and just because mr. homme plays an acoustic guitar doesn't mean he won't do things to you in front of your friends

EP: Melvins - "Eggnog"

I usually try to avoid the obvious album choices when posting here but this one just felt necessary.

Hopefully everyone is having a good holiday - this wonderful Melvins EP is my wildly thoughtful and appropriate gift to you. Sorry I couldn't find that sweater you wanted. If it helps this will be equally as fuzzed out and heavier than all that holiday weight you put on. Enjoy!

1. Wispy
2. Antitoxidote
3. Hog Leg
4. Charmicarmicat

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=58GQIPSE

Album: The Dwarves - "The Dwarves Are Young and Good Looking"

"The Dwarves Are Young And Good Looking" was released in 1997 and is widely considered to be The Dwarves' best and most consistent work, and I can't say that I disagree. This is an all around satisfying album and is like a barrage of greasy, pounding, great punk rock songs that just keep coming at you. It has everything from angry, pumping, angsty tracks like "The Crucifixion is Now" and "I Will Deny" to songs with a noise rock edge like "You Gotta Burn" and "We Must Have Blood" to some more tongue in cheek, comedic songs like "Pimp" and "Everybodies Girl". Seriously a great album from a super legit, tight and awesome band.

On a side note, The Dwarves are playing a show a few hours away from me on New Years - who wants to pay my way? (Just kidding.. sort of.)

1. Unrepentant
2. We Must Have Blood
3. I Will Deny
4. Demonica
5. Everbodies Girl
6. Throw That World Away
7. Hits
8. The Ballad of Vadge Moore
9. One Time Only
10. Pimp
11. The Crucifixion is Now
12. You Gotta Burn
13. (Untitled Track)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=TP6OACFQ

Album: The Walkabouts - "New West Motel"

Okay, so this isn't going to be one of my common "this is so heavy it will crush your bones, steamroll your brain and bury you in sludge" kind of post, but "New West Motel" by the Walkabouts is just such an overlooked yet classic album that I had to post it.

This is very Neil Young-esque ("Like a Hurricane" is even covered), western, folky, experimental rock. This album was released in 1993 and is really steady and catchy, dark at times, and has everything from psychedelic keyboards to acoustic guitars to strings. It conjures images of roadtrips and driving down a dusty highway; in fact, its a great soundtrack for doing exactly that... or just sitting around with friends. Well it's a good album for any situation, really. Enjoy.

1. Jack Candy
2. Sundowner
3. Grand Theft Auto
4. Break it Down Gently
5. Your Hope Shines
6. Murdering Stone
7. Sweet Revenge
8. Glad Nation's Death Song
9. Long Time Here
10. Wondertown (part one)
11. Drag this River
12. Snake Mountain Blues
13. Findlay's Motel
14. Unholy Dreams

Bonus Vinyl-Only Tracks:

15. Yesterday is Here
16. Like a Hurricane
17. Prisoner of Texas

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=P9Q7AWTG

EP: Sons of Otis - "The Pusher"

After looking through my music collection today (including my dwindling collection of CDs that are constantly being lent out, lost and/or destroyed) I came across this EP by Sons of Otis that I figured would be awesome to post here. It includes a really groovy, spacey cover of "The Pusher" by Steppenwolf and another instrumental, psychedelic track called "Dark Sun". This was released in 2002.

1. The Pusher

2. Dark Sun

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=9YVN03GH

My Top 9 Albums of 2009

Well, 2009 is coming to an end soon. It's been a decent year for music so I thought I would share a list containing my top albums of the year. Interesting? Mildly. Do you care? Maybe not. Will I still post this? Of course! This is, after all, a blog - and as such I will post some self-indulgent, "bloggy" things every now and again.. and if you can get something out of it then I guess my work here is done.


In no particular order...

1. BIG BUSINESS - "MIND THE DRIFT": It seems Big Business keeps getting better and better. After hearing their tour EP it was obvious that this album would rule, and it really does. It has a hell of a backbone and is super heavy in a pounding, intricate, catchy kind of way.

2. PISSED JEANS - "KING OF JEANS": Speaking of getting better and better... I was really impressed with Pissed Jean's latest release. This album is really dirty, angry, sarcastic and comedic in a dark sense. I'm starting to see Pissed Jeans as sort of this generations version of The Jesus Lizard (big shoes to fill, I know) as they have the same "I-don't-give-a-fuck" attitude with their performance and music yet seem to kill it every time.

3. SHRINEBUILDER - "SHRINEBUILDER": This album didn't exactly live up to my expectations, but my expectations were at a pretty unrealistic level as soon as I saw the lineup for this group. That being said it was still definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. To compare it to the members other acts (how could I not?) they all brought their own style to the table and it's an interesting mash up - it has Wino's signature vocal style, Om's psychedelic, middle eastern riffage and it all gets pulled together with the heavy backbone of Neurosis and Melvins.

4. OM - "GOD IS GOOD": So Om's lineup changed and madness ensued. Well, not really but there was a lot of talk about what they were going to sound like since changing one member is kind of a big deal when your band is a two piece. Luckily this album didn't disappoint and, while diverting from their old sound, it still drips with psychedelia and that metaphysical, spiritual feeling that Om is great for.

5. THEM CROOKED VULTURES - "THEM CROOKED VULTURES": It just wouldn't be a year in music without a release or 2 ...or 3 ...or 5... from Josh Homme, and between this and Shrinebuilder it was a pretty awesome year for supergroups. This album is sleazy and seductive in the way that only Josh Homme can make it and it's really intricate and solid. It's also pretty accessible to fans of many genres because who doesn't enjoy some well done, catchy rock n' roll?

6. VALIS - "DARK MATTER": This album is everything you would expect from VALIS. It has perfectly sabbath-influenced riffs, spacey atmosphere and mind bending psychedelia. VALIS has always been one of the best "stoner rock" bands in my mind because they aren't trying to fit into a specific genre with their sound, they're just extremely good at what they do and are a mindfuck to listen to without being stoned... and how many other bands in their genre can say that?

7. EAGLE TWIN - "THE UNKINDNESS OF CROWS": I actually reviewed this album on this site really recently, but I stand by that it's one of my favorite albums of the year. It's also probably the most crushingly heavy album on this list. This was Eagle Twin's debut album and I'm stoked to hear what they bring to the table in the future.

8. SONS OF OTIS - "EXILED": Speaking of mindfucks of albums, this one blew me away. Sons of Otis are just so heavy, so good. I don't know how to describe their sound other than Black Sabbath buried in a mountain of dirt and sludge, fuzzed out with big muff pedals... oh and something really pissed them off. This album has an apocalyptic feeling and is almost hypnotizing.

9. SOULSAVERS - "BROKEN": My rampant obsession with Mark Lanegan is no secret by now, and he really has yet to release something that I don't enjoy. He's probably my favorite vocalist as he just has that signature desolate, bluesy swing to his voice that's so haunting and mesmerizing. In true Lanegan style, this album has some star studded collaborations like the one with Ggibby Hayes of the Butthole Surfers for "Death Bells," and my personal favorite of the album which is a collaboration with Mike Patton called "Unbalanced Pieces".

And no top album list would be complete without the biggest let-down....

THE MELVINS - "CHICKEN SWITCH": This album may have been long awaited and my expectations may have been high considering it was coming from my favorite band, but I thought this album was pretty much a mess. I suppose you can't -really- blame the Melvins for this one considering it's other artists remixing songs that really didn't need to be touched in the first place, but I guess this just proves that you shouldn't mess with a good thing.

Split/EP: Acid King - "Down With The Crown" & Altamont - "Wanted Dead or Alive"

"Down With The Crown" by Acid King and "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Altamont were both 10"s released by Man's Ruin Records that were then later reissued as a split, which is super appropriate since Altamont has Dale Crover and Acid king has his (now ex) wife Lori S. I had a bitch of a time tracking this down for some reason so I thought I would share. I uploaded them seperately in case you already have one or the other.

First up is "Down With the Crown" by Acid King. Let me try to sum this up as quickly as possible: it's dirty, fuzzed out, smooth, heavy and psychedelic. It's usually hard for me to be sold on female vocals for some reason but i fully enjoy Lori's vocal efforts on this. This was the EP that sold me on Acid King after hearing a good amount of material like "Busse Woods" that I was unsure about, so be sure to give this a shot if you feel the same way.

1. Teen Dusthead

2. Full Reverse

3. Phase II (Extended Mix)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZVVW0310

....And here's "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Altamont. I really love this band and this EP. This is bluesy, psychedelic, heavy, dirty, spacey and groovy as hell. If you still aren't convinced I can sum it up in two words for you, those two words being Dale. Crover. The standout track on this for me is "Red Jackson".

1. Pluto Washington's Introduction

2. Sally Greensnake

3. Red Jackson

4. Casino

5. Pluto Closes Shop

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HC0TTDE6

Dave Grohl Megapost

i'd originally posted this over on my shiny grey monotone blog...but i figure that there are more than a few dave grohl fans over here as well...but i've thrown on a little extra for you folks that SGM didn't get (that being the queens of the stone age and them crooked vultures stuff)

don't say anything as SGM is pretty jealous and might do a little bit of watering your lawn or something...if you know what i mean


a friend of mine is in a band...and they wrote a song called "dave grohl,put the guitar down...this is an intervention"

no truer words have been spoken/written (well...there probably have been...just go with me here)

i've never really been a foo fighters fan...and the only song i've been able to listen to more than once was a cover of the gary numan jam "down in the park" that was put on the SONGS IN THE KEY OF X: MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE X-FILES soundtrack released back in 1996 (and really...it's 1 of 4 reasons to own it...the others being "red right hand" by nick cave and the bad seeds and "star me kitten" by rem w/william burroughs and "unmarked helicopters" by soul coughing)

as you may already know...he played for some band called nirvarna (or something like that) back in the 1990's...and before that he played in a band called scream out of washington dc...and he's played drums in various other bands (queens of the stone age...nine inch nails...killing joke (which is ironic because they tried to sue nirvana over a riff that was "stolen" from their song "eighties" and used in the nirvana song "come as you are"...which i will admit...sounds similar)...tenacious d)

but we're talking about nirvana here

before he joined the band back in 1990...the band had went through a string of drummers: aaron burkhard...dave foster...chad channing...

and then they had some guy named dale crover take over the stool for a bit...it was as if it were natural progression...then came dave grohl

it's like nirvana went from being ac/dc to being led zeppelin (drummer-wise)

and to be honest with you...the first time i heard nirvana (which was via mtv showing the "smells like teen spirit" video every 10 minutes) i wasn't really all that impressed...but the more i listened to it...the more dave grohl's beating the drums like they owed him money style beat it's way into my head

now i could continue to gush like a head wound about the man...but i'm not going to

this is some nirvana music with everything else turned down (so if you wanted to...you could impress the chicks by throwing this on the stereo and sitting behind a drum kit and be all like "hey ladies...check this action out!"...and you could mime your way into some girl's panties)

1 - drain you
2 - lounge act
3 - moist vagina
4 - pennyroyal tea (different version)
5 - sappy
6 - very ape
DL: nirvana drum tracks

queens of the stone age - 5.27.02 - cotton club - atlanta,ga
DL: qotsa@cotton club

1 - the sky is fallin'
2 - you think i ain't worth a dollar,but i feel like a millionaire
3 - monsters in the parasol
4 - avon
5 - first it giveth
6 - i think i lost my headache
7 - quick and to the pointless
8 - a song for the dead
9 - hangin' tree
10 - tension head
11 - no one knows
12 - gonna leave you
13 - you would know
14 - the lost art of keeping a secret
15 - (the crowd)
encore
16 - feel good hit of the summer
17 - regular john
18 - a song for the deaf

them crooked vultures - 10.1.09 - stubb's - austin,tx
DL: them crooked vultures@stubb's

1 - elephants
2 - mind eraser
3 - dead end friends
4 - scumbag blues
5 - gunman
6 - caligulove
7 - bandoliers
8 - daffodils
9 - interlude with ludes
10 - reptiles
11 - new fang
12 - no one loves me & neither do i
13 - warsaw

News: Pierced Arrows - New Track, "Paranoia" Released, "Descending Shadows" Out February 2

Calling all Dead Moon fans... you need to hear this.

Pierced Arrows is essentially Dead Moon with a different drummer. As a big Dead Moon fan I'm really stoked on this project. The song they recently released is called "Paranoia" and is awesome, super Dead Moon-esque (obviously) rock n roll with a great buildup and badass lyrics. You can listen to "Paranoia" here:

http://www.viceland.com/vicerecords/download/Paranoia.mp3

Their newest album is called "Descending Shadows" and will be released on Vice Records on February 2nd. It's funny - Dead Moon is seemingly a really accessible band, but when i listen to them in my car I hear everything from my passengers (aka peanut gallery) from "wow! What is this?!" To... "This band sounds like AC/DC." ...I'm guessing the latter is just due to the vocals. The point is, i'm super glad Fred and Toody are still releasing material of this quality. I'll post more tracks from Pierced Arrows as they arise.

Albums: Sludgeplow - Turned Earth Demo/Coleslaw EP

turned earth demo released 1992
coleslaw ep released 1999

this was a band out of iowa city,ia that split up back in 2000 after making the move to seattle,wa

since then...lead singer/guitar player jeff cornell went onto own a tattoo shop in seattle,wa (hidden hand tattoo)...drummer scott driscoll and bassist chad hartgrave moved to san diego,ca and formed the band archons

as for what this sounds like...it's a little sludgy...a little doomy...their name says it all

so if you like some early melvins...some sleep...a little mastodon...some keelhaul...

DL: turned earth demo
DL: coleslaw ep

Album: Mudhoney & Gas Huffer Split

released 1992

i'm not going to go into who these bands are...as they've been mention various times on this blog

what you get here is the cd version of a 7" that was released the year prior (that's 1991 for you not so bright folks)

on this version...a new song per band is added

DL: mudhoney/gas huffer split

Live Recording - Mr. Bungle - 11.26.96 - San Francisco,Ca

well...i've been away from the blog for awhile

and i'm going to assume that like myself...you folks enjoy a good bungling

this is inspired by cara's previous post

in my opinion...out of their 3 albums...i'd have to say that my favorites are SELF-TITLED and DISCO VOLANTE...but don't get me wrong...i do enjoy the CALIFORNIA album as well...but to me...it's somewhat bland compared to the rest of their material

and when faith no more reunited (and it feels so good) and embarked on their THE SECOND COMING TOUR (the only north american dates taking place in mexico...though it's been said that more dates will take place in the future)...rumors were started that mr. bungle would be touring again as well (mostly started by me)...but honestly...i think mr. bungle did everything they could possibly do...and the next logical step in the bungle-esque direction was taken in the band fantomas

but i'm rambling

you folks want the musics

this was recorded while the band was touring behind the DISCO VOLANTE album

1 - the bends(aqua swing)
2 - the bends(panic in blue)
3 - ma meeshka mow skwoz
4 - the breeze and i*
5 - chemical marriage
6 - cold war**
7 - loss for words***
8 - the secret song
9 - begin the beguine
10 - my ass is on fire
11 - love in space^
12 - phlegmatics/you don't know what love is^^
13 - after school special
14 - carry stress in the jaw
15 - la lucertola$
16 - mesu%
17 - travolta (aka "quote unquote")
18 - where the action is@
19 - desert search for techno allah
20 - ei raat tomat amar+
21 - violenza domestica
22 - platypus
23 - muscoli de velluto$
24 - hick
25 - tower of strength>

covers:
*=ernesto lecuona
**=siege
***=corrosion of conformity
^=peter thomas
^^=gene de paul
$=ennio morricone
%=mesaru satoh
@=freddy cannon
+=hemanta mukherjee
>=frankie vaughan

http://www.mediafire.com/?wmumjiun42d
http://www.mediafire.com/?1cbzdcdtnzn

Album: Mr. Bungle - "Mr. Bungle" (Rough Mixes)

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the wonderfully weird Mike Patton project, Mr. Bungle. Well, out of everything they've released I probably dig "California" and their self titled the most and so I was quite happy to come across these rough mixes of songs from their self titled album. Although these mixes aren't super different from the ones on the actual album, they offer a grittier side of these songs, and if you're anything like me, it will satiate your cravings for more, more, more Mr. Bungle material. (Although it's never really enough, is it?)

There are also a few tracks that weren't on the album like their cover of "Thunderball" from James Bond, which is one of those covers that's so ridiculously well suited to the band that it almost should be their own.

1. Carousel

2. Egg

3. The Girls of Porn

4. Love is a Fist

5. Slowly Growing Deaf

6. Squeeze Me Macaroni

7. Thunderball

8. Travolta

9. Mr Nice Guy

10. Stubb (A Dub)

11. My Ass is on Fire

12. Platypus

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8PBJO0MG

News: New J Mascis Project called "Sweet Apple" Out This March

Hey ho, more J Mascis projects are on the go. His newest project is apparently called "Sweet Apple", and their album called "Love and Desperation in Cleveland in Massachusetts" will be released on Tee Pee on March 30, 2010. J Mascis will be drumming, singing and playing guitar in the band and you can listen to/download a track of theirs called "Do You Remember" and read more information about the project here:

http://pitchfork.com/news/37291-j-mascis-forms-new-band-sweet-apple

Honestly, upon reading about this band I was initially expecting some kind of wicked Dinosaur Jr/Witch hybrid but "Do You Remember", although rockin', is a bit below my previous expectations. It seems a bit vanilla for J Mascis's repertoire of weird music. That being said, J Mascis rarely disappoints, so i anticipate that (hopefully) the rest of the album will be better.. but hey, take a listen and judge for yourself.

source: pitchfork

Interview: King Buzzo on Soft Focus of ATP

Here's a really interesting video interview of Buzz Osborne from Soft Focus at ATP. I always enjoy watching/reading interviews with Buzz as he's consistently thought provoking and entertaining. This is a really good interview and at 24 + minutes it really feeds my rampant Melvins obsession.

Here it is:

www.vbs.tv/watch/soft-focus-at-atp/buzz-osborne

The only experience I have with Buzz is when we met in Phoenix last August. I got a picture with him and we had a brief conversation where he mentioned not feeling very well and was clearly losing his voice. I told him to enjoy the rest of the tour, but maybe that was a wrong thing to say as they cancelled the rest of it after that date because he was so sick. Oh well - that was my first Melvins show and I'm happy I at least got to see them. But enough of my ranting and raving.

If you're a fan of the band you should definitely make the time to watch this. Enjoy!

Single: Sub Pop Edition #9 - Unnatural Helpers "Dirty, Dumb and Comical", "Connecting" / "Break That Horse", "Easy Way"

Well, like I promised, I'm going to continue uploading the newest Sub Pop singles. Initially i was going to upload them in the order I received them, but it proved to be too big a pain in the ass so it's going to be all out of order. (It's madness around here, i tell you.. Madness!)

But I digress.. here's the next single by Unnatural Helpers. The singles club this time around has definitely proven to be interesting as it's an eclectic mix of bands, many of which I hadn't previously heard. This single is all around an enjoyable listen, and proves to be angsty, spastic rock that is really groovy and honest.

1. Dirty, Dumb and Comical

2. Break That Horse

3. Easy Way

4. Broke

www.megaupload.com/?d=QQL14A9W