New Black Angels Album Stream + Video From Letterman (Free MP3)

The Black Angels have been all over the place lately. On Tuesday they played a secret show in the LES then last night they played Letterman (video below). All of this is to promote the new album, Phosphene Dream, coming out on September 14th, which you can now stream in it's entirety on MySpace.

Link:

Black Angels MySpace

 The Black Angels - Telephone  

Brooklyn Band: Jangula (Free MP3 Album)

The other day I got an email asking me when the next Brooklyn Ski Club show is and if I'd be interested in booking this band for it. I never heard of Jangula before but the email claimed they've been playing the house party circuit and since some of the best bands start out there I gave it a listen. It's pretty good stuff and while I have yet to see them in action they seem like they would be lotsa fun in a party setting. Brooklyn Ski Club won't be having any shows anytime soon but maybe you can book them for your next rager.

Link:

Jangula MySpace

(You can download their 4-song EP below the MySpace player)

MP3:
Genji Glove - Jangula

 Jangula - Genji Glove by BrooklynSkiClub 

Shows:

Aug. 21st (DJ SET) @ The McKibbin House (125 Manhattan Ave)

Aug 28th @ Bitter End 

Refused Live Album Streaming (MySpace)

The Refused, who are responsible for arguably the greatest album ever (The Shape Of Punk To Come), are streaming a previous unreleased live album on MySpace right now. It's part of the newly remastered recording of The Shape Of Punk To Come. 

Someone please tell this band to get back together. I mean, seriously; Record a fucking masterpiece and immediately breakup thus leaving an entire genre of music in ruins because, frankly, no one could compete or even fathom the next logical progression. Not cool, bros. Anyway, give it a listen.

Link:

Live Refused Stream

Deftones - Diamond Eyes (Video)

Deftones have a new video out for their new tune "Diamond Eyes." The song has one of the heaviest riffs I've ever heard from them, it's almost Pantera heavy even. Honestly I don't want Deftones to get too heavy which is nice that they mellow it out in the chorus a bit. The video itself is nothing special. The only thing that got my attention is that Chino actually looks like Chino again, which is to say he's not a big fat ass anymore. Good for you buddy, you'll be dusting off those old Dickies in no time flat.

Deftones - Diamond Eyes (Official)

Deftones | MySpace Music Videos

FRIDAY: Hot Chip & Free Energy Playing MySpace Secret Show

According to the press release I just got MySpace still exists. Who knew? To prove their existence they've put together a free show at Highline Ballroom.

UK electronic outfit Hot Chip will be playing a MySpace Music Secret Show in New York City at the Highline Ballroom on Friday, February 5 for their MySpace friends and fans in celebration of the release of their upcoming full-length album titled One Life Stand (Feb. 9, Astralwerks). Philadelphia-based DFA rock quintet Free Energy will open the performance. Doors for this all-ages event will open at 7 p.m. and entry will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, MySpace Music will be streaming the concert LIVE in partnership with Livestream via Hot Chip's official MySpace Music profile at http://www.myspace.com/hotchip beginning at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST.

MySpace Secret Shows Presents: Hot Chip with Free Energy
Venue: Highline Ballroom
City: New York, NY
Date: Friday, February 5
Time: Doors at 7 p.m.
All ages
Additional info: http://www.myspace.com/secretshows

10 Steps Through MySpace Music (1st Edition)

I thought up this concept over a year ago and have just totally slacked on writing something up. The idea is I start on familiar bands MySpace profile and click on a random band in their Top Friends. I then listen to a track or two and click on one of their Top Friends. This goes on until I've listened to ten bands. I review each band and let you kids know if they're worth a listen.

For the first edition I've decided to start with one of my favorites, Bear Vs. Shark. Sure they broke up years ago but they do have a MySpace page so let's give it a go.

1. Fire When Ready: This band is from Birmingham/Syracuse/Brooklyn, which must make practicing a bitch. My initial thoughts are that they actually remind me of BvS a bit but more of a hipster indie thing going on. Fire When Ready sounds like they would be fucking killer live. Overall, I'm surprised that the very first band I give a try is a home run. I have a feeling this is a band half of you already know but oh well. Awesome, awesome stuff. Don't want to stop listening but I must... Should You Listen? YES!
   
2. The Trip Wilsons: Another New York band, in this case Bainbridge, NY. The first song started out with some soul and then jumped into some guitar driven rock n' roll. These dudes aren't doing anything new but they are making it exciting. Another band that seems like they would kick your scrawny ass live. Should You Listen? Yes
   
3. Onemanriot And The Underground River: Binghampton, NY. Dreamy, and kinda spooky, mostly acoustic music. The name is too damn long, I would just go with The Underground River. Anyhow, the music is mellow but awesome. I rarely can stay interested with acoustic music but this shit is badass. Something about it reminds me of O'Death or older NY Howl but more stripped down and enchanting. Should You Listen? YES.
4. Joe Brown Was A Patient Man: More fucking NY shit. This is just some dude diddling his guitar. No vocals or variety of instruments. Honestly, some of it is cool but nothing I could listen to for more then a minute or two. Should You Listen? No
5. Terrible Sparrow: Damn dude...more Binghampton. The only recordings these dudes have up are live and they sound like horse shit. Maybe they're good but I can't tell from this crap. Should You Listen? NO.
6. Swath: Guess where these dudes are from? This sounds like the side project the two stoner metal dudes in the band play before the rest of their indie band shows up for practice. No vocals, very moody. It's cool I guess but it's been done a thousand times over. Should You Listen? Not unless you REALLY like Isis and hate vocals.
   
7. Pelican: We all know Pelican so I won't even bother with a review. I planned on only clicking on unknown bands but I had to get the fuck out of the Binghampton hole I fell into and Pelican was my out...I hope.
   
8. Wolves In The Throne Room: Get those fucking horns up you pussies! I was not expecting to end up on Olympia black metal but yet here we are. It's not bad for what it is but you hipsters will not dig this at all. Should You Listen? Only if you think Gorgoroth rules.
   
9. Note: Wolves have no Top Friends so had to go back to Pelican and pick again. Canadian Rifle: I'm not going to lie. I like this band for their name alone, it's awesome. The music itself is somewhere between Minute Men, Husker Du, and Pixies but with more of a local band feel (that's a good thing). I bet these dudes rule the local punk scene. Punk house punk. Should You Listen? Maybe, it's probably way better live.
10. Daylight Robbery: More of that punk house punk vibe. Makes me wish I was back in Motown drinking 40's and jamming at crusty house parties. This is pretty damn good and if I lived in Chicago I would be at their shows all the time. Should You Listen? Yeah sure, give it a go.
    

So there it is folks, your comprehensive guide to Binghampton, NY (I'm sure have those bands have the same members). Maybe I make up a new rule that no bands from the same town can be back-to-back. Whatever. I'm actually pretty happy with what I heard, especially the first three. Listen to all of the above and let me know what you think.

New Omar Rodriguez Lopez Album Streaming On MySpace

Apparently this is only available to stream today, so get while it's hot. I did not realize that Omar apparently records like 12 solo albums every year. I guess there's a lot leftover from 25-minute Mars Volta jams. I haven't listened to the whole thing yet but I dig it so far.

Link:
Stream Xenophanes on MySpace

Karen O & The Kids "All Is Love"

"All Is Love" which is the song that Karen O recorded for Where The Wild Things Are is streaming on MySpace. It's good, I like it. Take a listen.

**Update: The overwhelming consensus is that this song sucks. Here's the deal people, it was written for a kids movie. It's not a Yeah Yeah Yeahs song and shouldn't be rated as such. It's a soundtrack. You do understand that the goal when writing a song for a movie, television, art installment, or anything of that nature is different then when writing a song for an album, right? It's meant to compliment visuals and in this case for children. It's not the same as writing a pop song for a bunch of whiny hipsters. Please tell me you already know this. I'm not defending Karen O, hell I'm not a very big YYYs fan, but the lack of common sense is disturbing.

Link:
WTWTA MySpace

Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak Featurette

Video: Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster "Step Up (I'm On It)"

A long time ago I was introduced to a heavy as fuck (at the time) band called Underoath. They've since softened up quite a bit and I lost interest. Part of the reason they started to suck was they kicked out their old screamer dude, Dallas Taylor.

To keep busy Dallas started a southern rock/metal type band called Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster. I was pretty excited to hear that he had a new band when they started up...and then I listened to them. It wasn't terrible but, um, well it wasn't very good either. So I dismissed them and never bothered listening again.

Today I was on MetalSucks and they were raving about the new video so I gave it a chance. Well shiver-me-timbers! The Maylene boys got good, real fucking good. This is like straight up ass kicking southern metal, not the watered down shit I heard the first time I listened to them. So give it a spin, you might recognize the video.

Link:
MetalSucks

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster - Step Up (I'm On It)

Video: Modest Mouse - King Rat (Directed By Heath Ledger)

So apparently before the whole suicide thing Heath Ledger directed a video for Modest Mouse. It went live today on MySpace. The quality is shit but it's a pretty cool video I guess. The song is pretty typical Modest Mouse, which is to say it starts down some very interesting paths musically but always veers off that path before it hits pay dirt. Does that make sense?

Modest Mouse - King Rat (International Version)

New Mars Volta Album, Octahedron, Streaming On MySpace

You can listen to the new Mars Volta album in its entirety on MySpace. It's called Octahedron and it comes out on June 23rd. I'm listening to it right now and it's pretty much what you would expect from Mars Volta. Which is to say it's really good but a little more proggy then it needs to be or anyone really wants to hear. I'll try and get one of the other Ski Clubbers to review the whole thing. Until then you can listen and form your own opinions.

Link:
Mars Volta MySpace

via Buzzgrinder

New Alexisonfire Track & Album (June 23rd)!

There are very few bands that I actually get super fucking excited about. One of those bands is Alexisonfire from Canada. In my opinion they have the best singer in rock (Dallas Green who made a splash on the indie/hipster blogs with his solo project City & Colour) and play heavy melodic punk-ish music that somehow doesn't fall into the screamo or metalcore catagory. If you read this blog then you already know I love this band.

I hadn't heard anything regarding AOF in awhile so I checked out thier MySpace and was very pleased to find a new song, video, and a release date for the new album - Old Crows/Young Cardinals (out June 23rd).

If you haven't heard of Alexisonfire yet you should give them a listen. They are pretty much the biggest rock band in Canada (besides Anvil of course) and are huge in the UK as well. Oh and they're fucking amazing live, I've seen them about 4 or 5 times now. Go see them on Warped Tour this summer.

Link:
MySpace New Song - "Young Cardinals"

Alexisonfire - Young Cardinals

Darlings Are Playing Our Party

The next installment of the Non-Worker Party is tomorrow night at Red Star - be there or be square. Darlings are playing and were kind enough to send me a video and MP3 to share with you.

As you may recall Darlings were one of the 2009 Bands To Hear in the L Magazine. They were called "the least well-known band on this year's list" but it seems like they've everywhere lately. Tomorrow night you'll be seeing them at Red Star, right?

Darlings formed in the front room of an apartment on Bleecker Street in New York City. Peter Rynsky, Matt Solomon, Maura Lynch and Joe Tirabassi all met while they were killing time in college. They practice a brand of guitar pop that's equal parts sun-soaked '60s melodies and the noise of their hometown.

Link:

Darlings MySpace

MP3:
Teenage Girl - Darlings

Here's a live video from their show at Dead Herring

Netherfriends Are Cool

A few days ago I got an email about a band from Chicago called Netherfriends. I decided to give them a listen and was pretty impressed. If you haven't heard of them yet then take a listen. Apparently they've made the rounds at SXSW and CMJ so I'm sure I'll be issued a late pass on these guys.

Link:
MySpace

MP3:
Nunya - Netherfriends

Tac Tac (Kitchen Jam)

TAC TAC
by cosignpresents

Enter Shikari = HOLY AWESOMENESS!

There are very few bands that simply make me drop everything I'm doing and listen in awe. Enter Shikari are one of those bands. I can't even begin to describe the sound of this band. One minute they sound like Alexisonfire and the next they sound like Bloc Party, then it's Prodigy, Soulwax, then it's fucking As I Lay Dying and then FATA...WTF?!?! I'm fucking blown away by the mix of styles. Especially since it all makes perfect sense and flows so so smoothly. Apparently these guys are a big deal in the UK and the rest of Europe but I've never heard of them in the States. Hopefully that changes soon.

Link:
Enter Shikari

Sorry You're Not A Winner


Enter Shikari

New Kings Of Leon Video "Sex On Fire"

Weird video...

Sex On Fire

New Metallica "The Day That Never Comes"

Guess what? Metallica are back... to sucking! Even the mighty resurrector, Rick Rubin, couldn't bring these washed up fucks back from their alterna-rock holes. At best this is a b-side from The Black Album and at worst it's the best song on Load. So I'll admit it's the best thing they've released in a long time but it's still fucking boring. The solo is the only thing worth sitting through this crap for.

Really when it comes down to it they'll never sound good again as long as James is doing that terrible "ooh-yaaa-heeyy-ahh" bullshit voice he's been using since Load. You can't sing motherfucker, stop trying and fucking yell like you used to. I know a bunch of NASCAR watching, pick-up truck driving morons are going to disagree with me but I don't care. The truth is the truth, and the truth is Metallica are too rich and comfortable to make convincing metal anymore. Rest in peace Metallica. I'll never let you get my hopes up again, I can't take heart break like this anymore.

Link:
New Song On MySpace

Cold War Kids "Something Is Not Right With Me"

The new single by the Cold War Kids is now streaming on MySpace. If you want to actually download it then wait until Thursday and head over to RCRDLBL.

Link:
Cold War Kids MySpace

De La Rocha: One Day As A Lion "Wild International"

Holy shit Zach, it's about time you put out some non-Rage related music. People have been waiting for this almost as long as "Chinese Democracy". Go to MySpace and give the only available track "Wild International" a spin. Guess what- it's awesome! Not life changing awesome. But awesome nonetheless. It sounds like a stripped down RATM song, which it turns out is a good thing.

It's nice to have some music with a fucking edge. Listening to this one track makes me realize just how soft music is these days. One Day As A Lion is fucking fierce and I can't wait for the album to drop on July 22nd. Seriously I can't believe a jaded asshole like me is genuinely excited for an album release. I might actually go buy it even!

Link:
One Day As A Lion MySpace

Albert Hammond Jr. New Album Stream + Show Tonight

Check out the new Albert Hammond Jr. album Como Te Llama? Albert will be playing a private invite only show at Mercury Lounge tonight. Now might be a good time to call in that favor to your music biz buddy.

Link:
AHJ Album Stream


MP3:
GfC - Albert Hammond Jr.