AudibleVisible

2011-07-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

Dead.

East River Pipe; We Live In Rented Rooms

2011-07-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

Simply fantastic. Soft on the ears, yet punchy and strangely upbeat. Excels on the lyrical side, and they are sure to make your mind wander, especially if you choose to enjoy your music after a few cold ones as I do.

Local Natives: Gorilla Manor

2011-01-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Hailed by many as one of the top albums of 2010. Simply fantastic. As usual I've also listed the .rar. If you dig it pick it up at Amazon as an MP3 download for only 5 bucks.

Cheers, and happy listening.

Download Gorilla Manor
Local Natives Myspace
Buy Gorilla Manor at Amazon

Imperal Teen- The Hair, the TV, the Baby, & the Band

2011-01-15T15:38:00.000-08:00

Back to back posts? Hell yes. Gritty, innovative indie rock and roll in this installment.

Try it, you might just like it.

the hair, the tv, the baby, & the band

Built To Spill- Keep It Like A Secret

2011-01-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

This one goes back to '99 ladies and gents. Built To Spill formed way back in 1992, and still continue to pump out great indie tunes to this day. If you were to put Death Cab for Cutie and Weezer in a blender, this album is the most likely result. Cascading guitar, relentless bass, and well thought out and written lyrics have helped this album stand the test of time, and it sounds as if it was released yesterday.

The Plan
Center of the Universe
Carry the Zero
Sidewalk
Bad Light
Time Trap
Else
You Were Right
Temporarily Blind
Broken Chairs

Keep It Like A Secret

Gorillaz: The Fall

2011-01-07T21:46:00.000-08:00

Recorded on the road using essentially only an iPad, is offered for your listening pleasure free of charge at http://thefall.gorillaz.com/

I've also included the link below for those of you who wish to have a copy.

The Fall

Enjoy!

-sean

Oh hey, we forgot about this again.

2010-11-30T17:54:00.000-08:00

2010 is coming to a close so... uh... I'll be posting a best of list here at the end of the month for anyone (me) who's interested in what I consider to be the top tier 2010 albums.

Electric President: The Violent Blue

2010-10-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Electric President is from Jacksonville, FL and is part of Fake Four Inc. The album, The Violent Blue, is a remarkable album. The saying I believe appropriate for this is "It's the cat's meow." If you are a fan of Indie Rock then check Electric President out. You won't regret it.
-Travis

You can follow Electric President on Facebook HERE!
Also check out Fake Four Inc.

Das Racist - Sit Down, Man

2010-09-19T15:11:00.000-07:00

Das Racist 2nd full mixtape of the year is full or more all outrageous everything - better than you've ever seen, never have you ever seen anything like it. This time round they recruited a couple handfuls of other rappers (El-P and Despot get the best spots imo) to help see it through. The production is ill as usual thanks to the likes of Diplo and Teengirl Fantasy. It seems to me that this one is a bit more serious than 'Shut Up, Dude', but never fear. It's still totally absurd in the best way possible.

Listen up, dude.

-Ben

Das Racist - Shut Up, Dude

2010-09-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Das Racist is sort of hard to explain. They're a rap group who rap about damn the shit other rappers don't rap about. Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell? Check. One dollar cans of iced tea? Check. Faking a patois? Check. But it's not just silly, it's satire, and they do it really well. Wacky beats, wackier flow...

Give it a listen.

-Ben

65daysofstatic PX3 Single

2010-09-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

So I got an email telling me that 65daysofstatic will be releasing a follow up EP to the new release "We Were Exploding Anyway" on October 25, 2010. This news brought me great excitement! The track they released for the single is called PX3. It has an older 65 feel to it with drums, piano, guitar, etc. PX3 is a very good track and everyone who follows this blog should get it! Trust me, you won't regret it.

- Travis

Download the free single PX3

You can follow 65daysofstatic on Facebook, and their web page here.

Our Ceasing Voice

2010-08-14T00:46:00.003-07:00

This is why I love OCV. <3

If you like what you hear, head over to their Myspace page where can download pretty much all their stuff for free, or if you're so inclined (you should be), buy it.

-Ben

o'brother - The Death of Day

2010-08-04T20:50:00.000-07:00

Sometimes an album will hit you in just the right way so that it knocks the breath from your lungs. This is what happened to me upon hearing o'brother, The Death of Day. It's a relatively short listen, clocking in at just about 30 minutes with 5 tracks.

o'brother on Facebook

o'brother on Myspace

-Travis

B. Dolan: House of Bees Vol. 1

2010-08-02T22:39:00.000-07:00

Ya I know I just posted B. Dolan but hey....He's really good. This album, House of Bees Vol. 1, was released in 2009 and is just as good as Fallen House Sunken City. You all should check this album out as well!

-Travis

Follow B. Dolan on Facebook.

Get the album StrangeFamousRecords.

B. Dolan: Fallen House Sunken City

2010-08-02T22:10:00.000-07:00

B. Dolan is one fantastic hip-hop artist. Fallen House Sunken city was released in 2010 and wow! It is one spectacular album! It was released on Strange Famous Records which was created by the one and only Sage Francis which B. Dolan has followed in his foot steps. He raps like Sage but his beats hit way harder in my opinion. Dolan is just as and maybe even more creative than Sage...hard to say so just judge for yourself and get this shit!

-Travis

Follow B. Dolan on Myspace.

Purchase this album and numerous other greats at StrangeFamousRecords.

NASA Voyager Recordings - Symphonies of the Planets

2010-08-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

What we have here is really cool. As the Voyager space probes passed by planets, they picked up each planets electromagnetic "signature". Although we cannot audibly hear such a thing in its raw state through the vacuum of space, NASA has instruments that translate them to sounds we can perceive. The great emptiness of space and all its holy bodies, available for your listening pleasure. Each part is about 30 minutes long. Enjoy.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

-Ben

Anamanaguchi - My Skateboard Will Go On

2010-07-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

I downloaded this originally because it hosts a remix of Rainbow in the Dark by Das Racist, which is a great song. Turns out the other song is pretty sweet too. A gameboy meets Fang Island meets Ratatat and the three of them get the fuck down together.

Download My Skateboard Will Go On

-Ben

The Watermark High- Loneliness As An Art Form

2010-07-25T18:02:00.000-07:00

Paints a nice soundscape. Ambient/Indie lovers, look here.

Download: Loneliness As An Art Form.

-sean

Mastodon: Crack the Skye

2010-07-25T00:48:00.000-07:00

Mastodon is easily the best concept metal band in my opinion. Each album tells a very in depth story, but not near as in depth as Crack the Skye. This album is named after Brann Dailor's, the drummer, sister who OD'd. Her name was Skye. Also Brent Hinds went into a coma after a little scuffle with SOAD's own Shavo Odadjin and during his coma he explained that he had an "out of body experience", which helped create this masterpiece of an album. Mastodon took a turn for the best with this album with sweet jam sessions and lengthy tracks. It's a must have for the collection.

Experience Crack the Skye.

Follow Mastodon on Facebook.
on Myspace.
Check out the official site.

Download a two song sampler from Crack The Skye here.

-Travis

God is an Astronaut: Age of the Fifth Sun

2010-07-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

God is an Astronaut has always impressed me with their uplifting sound. The new album, Age of the Fifth Sun, is simply brilliant! There isn't much to say about this album because you will just have to listen for yourself to see how good it is.

-Travis

Age of the Fifth Sun download

Ratatat-LP3

2010-07-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Fucking perfect. 'Nuff said.

Ratatat LP3

-sean

Ratatat-LP4

2010-07-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

Honestly I don't know why this isn't already on the blog. It's the perfect follow up to LP3, and with each consequent new album Ratatat makes leaps and bounds over their previous one. It's fantastic and you need to be listening to it now. Right now.

Ratatat LP4

Password: mikkisays.net

-sean

Panda Bear - Tomboy

2010-07-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

New Panda Bear single from the upcoming album of the same name, and first in a series of 7" singles from different labels leading up to the album... solid.

Download Tomboy here.

-Ben

Moving Mountains- Pneuma

2010-07-17T01:43:00.000-07:00

I do not usually make back to back posts but damn. Moving Mountains have sunk their claws into me. I offer no words on Pneuma. Instead I leave you all to your own devices to arrive at your own conclusion. 

Aphelio

 Cover the Roots: Lower the Stems

Alastika

 Fourth 

8105

Bottom Feeder

Sol Solis 

Grow On,  Grow Up, Grow Out 

Ode We Will Bury  Ourselves

The Earth and the Sun

Download Moving Mountains Pneuma

-sean

Moving Mountans- Foreward EP

2010-07-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

Whilst prowling Last.fm this evening I happened across this short but fantastic gem. I liken it akin to taking the long way around to a destination you traveled to a thousand times. If you don't immediately fall in love with it the first journey through re-visit it soon, you will. 

Download Forward EP

-sean

Balmorhea: All is Wild, All is Silent

2010-07-16T02:31:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a late night so I thought I would go ahead and put up another post. I just downloaded Balmorhea's album, All is Wild, All is Silent, and let me just say it is one of the most passionate and emotional instrumental albums of 2009. Of course that's just me. Each song is powerful and moving with instruments such as: the violin, cello, banjo, and the acoustic guitar. Song after song, it just keeps on building and there is never a dull moment on this album. Balmorhea has always impressed me, therefore I'm stupid for not getting this album sooner. Enjoy the listen if you choose to listen that is.

- Travis

The journey begins now.

Reka: I & II

2010-07-16T00:48:00.000-07:00

I discovered Reka a few months back and have fallen completely in love with every track! Reka was formed in Moscow, Russia. The music they play is a mixture between ambient and post-metal riffs along with a brutal screaming lead vocalist that just adds to every track. The album titles are only named with Roman numerals, I (blue cover) and II (red cover). When played back-to-back the albums run smoothly together as if they were one CD. I caught wind that they are planning on releasing a anthology with these two albums as the first two CDs. Both albums were released this year. So if you love to fucking rock out to some good metal and can dig some quite times at the perfect moment, then get this shit fo'sho!

-Travis

English Translations of the Tracks

Tracklist: I
01. Life Long Tragedy
02. Dead City
03. At Midnight Sharp
04. Egocentrism
05. Oh, Brave New World

Tracklist: II
01. Flooded Lazaretto
02. The Master of Flies
03. Threads
04. Asperger Syndrome

Download Reka I & II RIGHT NOW!

Periphery: Self-titled

2010-07-15T02:17:00.000-07:00

This band......let me tell you what, they rock my socks off! Periphery are a six piece prog-metal band from Maryland. Crazy solos, brutal screams, some synth work and wondrous rhythms. The debut album, Periphery, was released this year and is one of the best metal albums I myself have heard this year. Every song on this album throws you something new each time. If you are a fan of The Human Abstract or Meshuggah you should probably give Periphery a shot.

-Travis

Want the album? It's right here!

65daysofstatic" One Time for All Time

2010-07-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

Hello there! So this album has been out since 2006 and when I heard the first track off this album, Drove Through Ghosts to Get Here, I instantly fell in love with this band! 65daysofstatic are a perfect mix of electronic and post-rock. Each song off this album has a powerful sound that makes you want to groove no matter where you are at! If you dig post-rock and electronic, then get this album A.S.A.P!

Download it HERE.

-Travis

Dosh - Call the Kettle live

2010-07-13T14:00:00.001-07:00

Dosh <3

-Ben

Fyfe Dangerfield: Fly Yellow Moon

2010-07-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Shouts to everyone tuning in to the blog out there! Thank you for doing so, hopefully you are discovering some amazing tunes you wouldn't have otherwise. I've been MIA for awhile and Ben has been running the show and doing a fantastic job if I may say so. Today I return with a vengeance with Fyfe Dangerfield. Fly Yellow Moon is hands down the most fantastic album in its genre that I have heard in awhile, and this is from an artist few have heard of outside of the U.K.

When You Walk In The Room
So Brand New
Barricades
High On The Tide
Faster Than The Setting Sun
Livewire
Firebird
She Needs Me
Don't Be Shy
Any Direction
She's Always A Woman
Awake, Asleep
Let's Start Again
Faster Than The Setting Sun (Single Version)

Download it here.
Visit Fyfe Dangerfield's Website

-sean

Sahara Surfers - Spacetrip On a Paper Plane

2010-06-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

And what's this? Deep cuts sent from space, stoned on arrival? Yes. Spacetrip On a Paper Plane jams hard and shows no remorse. It's a solid first release, and if I were you, I'd be keeping a close eye on these guys.

Download Spacetrip On a Paper Plane

-Ben

Sole leaves anticon.

2010-02-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

2/9/10

Today, with a heavy heart I end 11+ years of working with anticon. In the early days of the label, anticon was a pet project of mine, a life-long dream. We fulfilled the dream of a collectively run record label and put out many great records and stood as an image of defiance against the music industry. Those memories, I will always have and be proud of. Sadly, those times are gone, and I need to live in the present as I prepare for the future.
Leaving the company was not an easy decision, but it was made necessary by a number of factors. Upon returning to the states from a 2-year exile in Spain, I found myself increasingly at odds with the business end of anticon and began doing more DIY work via soleone.org. Running my own website and taking a more hands on approach with my art has always brought me great satisfaction and it is what I am choosing to return to. There are no ill feelings between myself and members of anticon. I will continue to work with many of the artists and will always love them as brothers and consider them allies. This is a decision to change the way my music will be exploited and adapt to shifting paradigms.
We created anticon as a response to what was going on at the time in the music industry - the indy boom of the late 90’s. There were still a viable music industry then and people bought records. That’s how we built up our empire. The music industry isn’t just dying, but what it means to be a recording artist is changing. Technology is making everything cheap, and cheapening everything it touches. Soon the old ways of selling records will be a distant memory, along with magazines, working musicians and employed blue-collar dads. It’s not a time to cry about the recession, or urge people to go to their local mom and pops and pick up the new sole & skyrider LP. Technology is working its magic, and instead of being a passenger on its ship, I have decided to plot a new course for myself.
The very fact that I have thrived in this environment still sometimes is a surprise to me. I’m 32 today. I put out my first vinyl when I was 16. For me its always been about ethics & passion, doing what felt right in my core and acting on that, whether or not it was the popular or conventionally wise thing to do.
From now on now all my releases will be made available @ soleone.org via my new label Black Canyon Records and exclusively distributed worldwide via Revolver USA. There is an email newsletter list ton soleone.org, if you wish to be kept in the loop on my releases/updates that will be the best place.

Peace
Tim “sole” Holland

Well that makes me sad.

www.soleone.org
www.anticon.com

-Ben

The One AM Radio - An Old Photo of Your New Lover

2010-02-06T23:03:00.000-08:00

Great new song! Can't wait to hear the new album.

Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh

An old photo of your new lover That you discovered
in a book she lent
Shot in some sun drenched Piazza
Or whatever in Rome or wherever it is she went
There's a sly glint in her eye
And you can only guess at what it might have meant

There's a world without you
There's a world without you

Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh

An old photo of your new lover
That you discovered
To your chagrin
It's been so long since it all went sunder
That you stopped wondering where she's been
Her hair's changed... her clothes are strange...
At a party where the likes of you would never get in

There's a world without you
Yeah, there's a world without you
There's a world without you
Yeah, there's a world without you

You don't want the news if you're not a part of it
Even if it's true you still fall apart a bit
You don't want the news if you're not at the heart of it
Even if it's true
Even if it's true

You don't want the news if you're not a part of it
Even if it's true you still fall apart a bit
You don't want the news if you're not at the heart of it
Even if it's true
Even if it's true

There's a world without you
Yeah, there's a world without you
There's a world without you
Yeah, there's a world without you

Oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh

http://www.myspace.com/theoneamradio

-Ben

The Smashing Pumpkins - Teargarden by Kaleidyscope (cont.)

2010-02-01T17:18:00.000-08:00

Song two, Widow Wake My Mind, of the 40-some-odd track album is out and it's oh-so... well, it's pretty weak. It might just be me, but the current two have a nautical feel, which I think is neat, so that's something I guess. Let's hope #3 is better...

Widow Wake My Mind

-Ben

Josiah Wolf - Jet Lag

2010-02-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

Josiah Wolf, older brother to Why? front man Yoni Wolf, is set to release his fist proper solo album (Jet Lag) in March, and I am superfuckingexcited. I won't try to explain it to death, but it gives me a raging drum boner, and we'll leave it at that. Just download it and give it a listen for yourself.

The Trailer & the Truck

-Ben

Emancipator - Safe in the Steep Cliffs

2010-01-17T22:48:00.000-08:00

I had gotten over the sadness of accepting that Emancipator would probably only ever have one album. But holy shit, what's this? I totally missed that he has a new album, Safe in the Steep Cliffs, coming out, when? Tomorrow?! Damn! So here's a new track...

Download Nevergreen

-Ben

Best of 2009

2010-01-17T22:39:00.000-08:00

Lots of cool stuff this last year. I found some new bands that I really fell in love with. Anyway. If you haven't head these... hear them.

1) The Protomen - Act II: The Father of Death
2) Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion
3) Themselves - Crownsdown
4) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
5) Why? - Eskimo Snow
6) Sole & the Skyrider Band - Plastique
7) The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
8) Toma - As We Fall Into Static Our Hearts Sing
9) The Flaming Lips - The Dark Side of the Moon
10) Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind

Honorable Mentions

1) Themselves - theFREEhoudini
2) Mt. Harpsichord - Mt. Harpsichord
3) Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
4) The Mars Volta - Octahedron
5) fun. - Aim and Ignite
6) Our Ceasing Voice - Steadied Stars in the Morphium Sky
7) Volcano Choir - Unmap
8) Bike For Three! - More Heart Than Brains
9) Dan Deacon - Bromst
10) Andrew Bird - Noble Beast/Useless Creatures

Here we go 2010.

-Ben

Why? vs. Daytrotter

2010-01-09T07:04:00.000-08:00

Daytrotter is a neat little organization that gets musicians to sit down and do stripped-down, generally acoustic, sets, which they then put up on their website for free. Well they finally got around to one of my favorite bands ever. Front man of Why?, Yoni Wolf, sat down with a piano to record some very nice versions of some of their newer songs as well as a Bob Dylan cover.

Download it here. Seriously, go download it.

-Ben

Best of 2008: A Recap

2010-01-09T06:52:00.000-08:00

2009 has come and gone, and I'm while still trying to make sense of all the fantastic music that broke through to my speakers and headphones, I'm going to throw out my best of 2008 list. Let's call it a throwback to some stuff that some of us may have forgotten in the excitement of 2009.

1) Why? - Alopecia
2) Anathallo - Canopy Glow
3) Toma - Dakota Took to Wing and History Was Made
4) The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
5) Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
6) Son Lux - At War With Walls and Mazes
7) Bracken - Eno About the Need
8) Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts
9) Astronautalis - Pomegranate
10) Ratatat - LP3

Honorable Mentions

1) Why? - Almost Live From Eli's Room
2) Department of Eagles - In Ear Par
3) Alias - Resurgam
4) Sole & the Skyrider Band - Sole and the Skyrider Band Remix LP
5) Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness
6) Mike Patton - A Perfect Place
7) Subtle - ExitingARM
8) The Notwist - The Devil, You + Me
9) Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
10) Animal Collective - Water Curses

If you haven't listened to these yet (Alex, I think you're the only one even sporadically reading this), do yourself a favor and get to it.

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 2009

2009-12-19T18:57:00.000-08:00

This year I had the privilege of attending Bonnaroo, a huge music and art festival held just outside of Manchester, TN. I've been aware of Bonnaroo for quite some time, but never really took interest in going. This year was different though. I saw the lineup and knew immediately I had to be there. Nine Inch Nails, The Mars Volta, Tobacco (of Black Moth Super Rainbow), Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, and The Protomen? All in one place? Sign me up.

So it's about a 7 hour drive from where I live to Manchester. My friend and I pack up our stuff and head out to hook up with some other friends who were caravaning down. The trip to was pretty uneventful until we got to Tennessee, where we found some kids from Nebraska at a gas station playing a bongo, who were also headed to Bonnaroo, so they jumped on the end of our caravan.

We pull into the venue at about 2 a.m. and start setting up camp. I'm not really one for camping, so I was kind of dreading camping for five nights, but whatever, I'll endure for this lineup (I should mention that our campsite was a good half an hour walk to the venue). The kids we found at the gas station pull in two spots down from us, set up and immediately bust out the bongos again. This time one of them had a guitar, and they started jamming out, before long, a crowd of maybe 25 people had gathered around, adding two more guitars, another bongo, a handful of tambourines, and a chorus of strangely melodic nonsensical sounds. That was my first impression of Bonnaroo, and it was good. If the whole trip continued on with this kind of bizarre companionship, I would be more than happy.

I knew beforehand that Bonnaroo was a meeting grounds for any and all drugs, but I didn't realize just how true that was. Within half an hour of setting up our tents, we were offered acid, ecstasy, weed, and something that I'd never heard of. After buying some bunk doses, we hung out with our new friends until the sun came up, at which point in time we thought we should get some sleep for the rest of the day.

Day 1: You can't help but wake up at 8:30 every morning when you're in a bright, hot tent, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of people, so up we got. The main body of Bonnaroo, affectionately called Centeroo, didn't open until 11:00, so we bummed around, did some people watching, and got in line for the opening of the gates after an intense 12 minute thunderstorm. An enormous group of people harassed the guards when they took to long to search everyone, which was usually a gentle pat on the pockets and a "Yeah, go on." Once inside, things started getting strange. Food vendors lined the paths, shouting catchy slogans at you, strange attractions beckoned you in, an enormous neon ferris wheel slowly spun in the background, over sized bobble heads and fireflies called you over to take a sit-down under them, offering much sought-after shade. Strange teardrop shaped wooden infrastructures hung from trees, and a fountain in the shape of a huge mushroom spewed water for anyone who happened to want to get wet. There were five main stages, designed to confuse the concert goes who happened to be on drugs, by having the names What Stage, Which Stage, This Tent, That Tent, and The Other Tent. Musically the first day was pretty uneventful for me. We saw MURS, a rapper, at That Tent. I'd never listened to him before, but I knew the name. He put on a great energetic show, getting everyone in the crowd to sing along with him for few songs. After that we bummed around some more, saw the sights, and waited for Tobacco to start up his first set for the night. He played in a small little dance club building, which I thought was unfortunate, as I didn't really want to rave dance with everyone. I hung back and listened, and was impressed by how well he pulled off the deep dirty synths that his music contains. After that we headed to the tent where he would be playing again in an hour. As soon as his set started, it started to pour. Not wanting to be caught in the monsoon, we hung our heads and left after 5 minutes. A shame. We got back to our camp 45 minutes later, soaked, muddy, and ready for sleep.

Day 2: I wake up excited. Day two really kicked off the roller coaster of fantastic live shows that carried on through the festival. We started the day with Animal Collective, who I was very interested in seeing. I wanted to know how these three guys pulled off this bizarre electronic cacophony on stage. They played brilliantly. One had a synth pad, one had a guitar, and the other manned a second synth as well as drums. They played mostly songs off of their new album, which was fine, it's a great album, as well as a song from Panda Bears solo album. A very impressive performance even though we were back so far we couldn't really see them all too well. After that we headed over towards Grizzly Bears set and somehow snuck into the 2nd row, to the right of the stage. I just recently picked up on Grizzly Bear after picking up and falling in love with their new album, Veckatimest. All the songs they played were brilliantly done. Most of them involved complex vocal harmonies, which were performed flawlessly by all four members of the band. Also, they all took turns singing, which I didn't notice on the album, but I thought was really cool that they mesh so well musically that they could do that without throwing everyone off. Leaving that tent happy, we swung by TV on the Radio for a few minutes, which was cool, but I don't really know any TV on the Radio, so we headed over to the main stage to wait it out for the Beastie Boys. I'm not a huge Beastie Boys fan, but they put on a pretty good show. They had a little trouble keeping the audiences attention until the brought Nas on for a few numbers. By this time I was about to flip a shit. Everything had been great so far, and now it was time for the band I was most excited about, The Protomen. A band based solely around the story of Megaman and his brother, Protoman, The Protomen play a video game rock opera of the most epic proportions. I should mention that Phish played their first show at the same time that The Protomen played, so I was in an audience of maybe 30 people, which was great, because they were all there to specifically see The Protomen. No one waiting to see someone else, or passing by. They started setting up their equipment, and I was surprised to see that they had 11 people playing with them. The show started and we all went crazy. Their stage presence was out of this world. They had a female choir of 3, two drummers, two guitarists, a handful of synths, a 5 foot drum stacked on top of some amps, a trumpet, and a couple keyboards. They played some tracks from their new album (which I won't shut up about until I have it in my hands), but mostly tracks off their first album, which is fucking amazing. Go listen to it right now actually. But I digress. They put on probably one of the most fun shows I've ever been to, and they hung out afterwards to thank everyone for coming out and watching them play. All of them are really sweet guys and gals, they kept on saying that they didn't play very well and that they were sorry, which was crazy. I got to talk to the singer for a bit, and he mentioned that the new album would be out sometime in September. They all signed a poster for me, and I went on my jolly way, still buzzing off the exhilaration of watching a Megaman rock opera played out in front of me, props and all. Before we headed back to camp, we caught a few minutes of Public Enemy, which I had no real interest in seeing, besides so I could say that I'd seen them. We waited for Crystal Castles to finish their set (terrible) to see a bit of Girl Talk, which turned out to be really boring, as all he does is stand behind his laptop. Sleep soon followed.

Day 3: I might have only seen 3 bands on the third day, but damn, what a day. We got a late start and saw the beginning of Of Montreal's set before heading to get in line for The Mars Volta, which we ended up in the 2nd row for. They came out on stage and broke out into... Omar tuning his guitar a bit while Cedric joked "This is what happens when you learn to play guitar at guitar center...". Funny guy. I guess they don't play much from De-Loused anymore, but we were treated to Roulette Dares and Drunkship. Lucky us. Their set was killer except that Cedrics mic was turned way down. After that was Bruce Springsteen, and only Bruce Springsteen, who I was not really thrilled about seeing. So I, along with about thirty other people, started to wait for Nine Inch Nails, who would come on four and a half hours later. Longest four and a half hours of my life, but I was in the 3rd row, so all was good. The wait was well worth it, NIN owned every other show I've seen them play. It was two hours of angry Reznor at the pinnacle of what NIN now is. Near the end of the show Trent commented that this would be the last NIN show in the US ever, and that if he were to continue to tour, he would lose his mind. The Day the World Went Away into Hurt closed the last NIN show for America, and was followed by the chant of "Thank you Trent!". For a NIN fan, this is as close to a religious experience as you can get, and I am proud to say that I was there in the 3rd row for it. I met up with my friend and we headed back to camp. As if the days events weren't enough, we come back to find some guy tripping balls on something, screaming and walking around. The medics finally decided that he probably shouldn't be allowed to roam free and do what he wanted to, so five of them held him down while security and a car were called for. The guy was having a bad enough time before being forcefully pinned to the ground. Who knows what he actually saw or thought was happening, but whatever it was must have been terrifying, because it sounded like he was being stabbed repeatedly at the slowest speed possible. They took him to a nearby hospital, but shit, the guy will probably never view life the same way again.

Day 4: Not a whole lot going on on the last day. We saw Andrew Bird, who had Martin Dosh drumming, which I was happy about, as Dosh is a great drummer. The whole band played really well, and Bird was pretty funny. The sound quality of it was outrageous, and I will say this, the man is a powerful whistler. All in all really cool. Following that was Snoop Dog, who I really didn't know what to expect from. Turns out it was a really funny show, even though you spent half the time saying his name. He really got everyone into it, having his DJ turn everything down because "the cops were coming", but then decided "Yo, fuck tha po-liece!" and turned it back up. Phinishing (I'm sorry.) the night was Phish, playing a 4 hour split set. I'd never really listened to Phish before. I knew they're a jam band, but that's about it. I don't think I'll ever listen to Phish again. Not that they're bad musicians, but my god, 4 hours of very similar jams start to eventually put one to sleep. But whatever, I'm not going to to miss the closing act for this strange and wonderful festival. Springsteen came out and played a few songs with them, which was neat I guess. Phish finally stopped playing and everyone headed back to their camps.

When we left the next morning, the place was already pretty empty. It was a bizarre thing to attend. Inside Bonnaroo is some other place entirely, set apart from the rest of the world, where everyone's your friend, everything is legal, and medical care is readily available whenever you need a band aid or a shaded place to come down. A place where people are lined with glows sticks at night, and during the day, those same people can be seen napping in the shade of a seven foot long felt lightning bug. A place where you learn to respond to Bonnaroo as the collective name for you and the countless people around you. And then it's over. Just as jarringly as you're tossed into it, you're spit back out, left wondering if it really happened at all.

Well I have the wristband, so I know it did.

If anyone who happened to be there finds this, thank you! I had a great time.

-Ben

Jónsi - Boy Lilikoi

2009-12-15T00:17:00.000-08:00

Jón Þór Birgisson, better known as Jónsi, better known as the angelic voice of Sigur Rós, has a is hard at work on his new solo album, entitled Go. If Go turns out anything like this song, which is available for free on his website, we may have an early contender for album of the year 2010. But really, it's a great song full of psych-pop hooks and ear-melting vocal harmonies. Enjoi.

http://www.jonsi.com/

-Ben

The Smashing Pumpkins - Teargarden By Kaleidyscope

2009-12-11T02:13:00.000-08:00

"Free will mean free, which means you won't have to sign up for anything, give an email address, or jump through a hoop. You will be able to go and take the song or songs as you wish, as many times as you wish."

Hats off to you Mr. Corgan, a 44 track album released song by song for free? Sing me up. Fist song is out now, Song For a Son, and it's a thoroughly OK song. A nice way to kick off this project.

http://smashingpumpkins.com.s3.amazonaws.com/player/mp3/A-Song-For-A-Son.mp3

-Ben

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

2009-11-29T20:20:00.000-08:00

Newly introduced to me, Yeasayer has a new track from their upcoming album, Odd Blood, up for free on their website. It's a tripped out Psych-Pop track with a great feel to it. Oh, the video is really cool too.

Download it here... http://www.amblingalp.com/

Watch it here... http://stereogum.com/archives/video/new_yeasayer_video__ambling_alp_102831.html

-Ben

Schwarzenator - Conan

2009-11-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

What happens when some guys get together to write a prog-metal song about Arnold Schwarzenegger's Conan the Barbarian? This is what you get. The first bit it sung through the perspective of Conan, then it goes into something else... If I were more familiar with Conan, I might be able to give some commentary on what the hell is going on, but no such luck. Anyway. It's initially bizarre, but grows it on you quickly. These guys are really talented, and I'm stoked to hear more strange Schwarzenegger themed metal in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCyNpiJgQlg

-Ben

The Grouch - Artsy

2009-10-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

My friend shared this with me, and I love it. Artsy by The Grouch. Cool video, cool song. If I can find a link to the album it's on, I'll share it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCHV2I_Xog0

-Ben

dropa.

2009-10-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

dropa.

A well orchestrated plan.

Sounds like: Electronic, New Wave.

Download A well orchestrated plan.

Headtrip

Another Fix

A New Day

Conscious Connection

Carlots Vs. Parkwalks

Candy Eyes

Moving In Sequence

In My Room

Pulse

Remote Control

The Oblivious

Thread

A well orchestrated plan

Emancipator.

2009-10-16T02:25:00.000-07:00

Emancipator.

soon it will be cold enough.

Sounds like: Trip/Hop, Down-Tempo Electronic.

Download soon it will be cold enough

Eve

Soon It Will Be Cold Enough To Build Fires

First Snow

Wolf Drawn

Anthem

Smoke Signals

When I Go

Periscope Up

With Rainy Eyes

Good Knight

Lionheart

Maps

Father King

The Darkest Evening of the Year

El Ten Eleven

2009-10-16T02:11:00.000-07:00

El Ten Eleven

These Promises Are Being Videotaped.

Sounds like: Instrumental Electro Math Rock.

Download These Promises Are Being Videotaped

Jumping Frenchmen Of Maine

I like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They're Cool

Fat Gym Riot

Adam And Nathan Totally Kick Ass

K10

Paranoid Android

Chino

Numb Tooth

Stepping into the light...

2009-10-16T02:01:00.000-07:00

The following three artists: dropa, Emancipator, and El Ten Eleven, are fantastic artists you need to know now. Whether you already have heard and been aware of them, or if this is the first you have heard of them, you surely won't be disappointed. These are three albums I constantly find myself revisiting on my ipod. So grab a seat, get comfortable, and step into the light.

-Sean.

Devoted to quality.

2009-10-15T20:27:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take a second to introduce and share one of my favorite independent artists. He goes by the moniker of Toma, and he makes some of the most honest music I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. Released free through Wise Owl Records, Toma has put out three beautiful albums. If you ever listen to anything I say on this blog, listen to this; download all three of his albums, and share them with anyone who will listen.

From Ruins (shoegaze/post rock/ambient)
http://wor.raptorhideout.com/owl21.zip

Dakota Took to Wing and History Was Made (shoegaze/post rock/ambient)
http://wor.raptorhideout.com/owl26.zip

As We Fall Into Static Our Hearts Sing (shoegaze/post rock/ambient)
http://wor.raptorhideout.com/owl42.zip

Enjoy.

-Ben

Those we love...

2009-10-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Well, why not get things started with some of our favorites? While reviews take time, lists do not. Here are both of our top ten albums, which we'll be reviewing over the next month or so...

Sean/
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Daft Punk - Discovery
The Decemberists- The Hazards Of Love
Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth
Tool - Ænima
Fyfe Dangerfield- Fly Yellow Moon
Radiohead- Pablo Honey
Elton John- Elton John
Hootie & The Blowfish- Cracked Rear View

Ben/
Anathallo - Canopy Glow
13 & God - 13 & God
The Protomen - the Protomen
Radiohead - Kid A
Subtle - A New White
Why? - Alopecia
Toma - Dakota Took to Wing and History Was Made
Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
Radiohead - Amnesiac
Thom Yorke - The Eraser

-the Exosphere

Greetings from the Exosphere.

2009-10-13T16:15:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Nautical Sunrise: Sounds From the Exosphere. Let us start with a simple introduction. We are two people who love music more than anything else that this world has to offer. We find joy in spreading the sounds we love to anyone who will listen.

Our purpose here is simple. We wish to inform and educate you, our fantastic readers and fellow bloggers, about music that matters. Here we shall offer our thoughts, opinions, and musings on each and every album we already love, as well as those that have yet to come to fruition.

Hopefully you explore our blog and discover something you otherwise might not have, and hopefully you love it. Please feel free to drop us a line for more information on anything that might be hiding in bowels of our blog. If there's something you feel the blog needs, or doesn't need, or if you would like to see a specific band/artist reviewed/name-dropped/slammed/prayed to, by all means let us know.

We are the Exosphere, and we are wild-eyed, oped-eared, and longing for fucked up new sounds.

Sincerely,

Sean & Ben

-the Exosphere