Say Hello To The Angels

Sorry, anyone

2006-04-12T22:09:00.000-07:00

I've got a lot of stuff going on in my life right now, so I haven't been able to make any posts. I'll resume soon, I promise. Just keep checking back, I get off for Easter break tomorrow, so I'll have a bit more time in the mornings for stuff.

Yay! Easter break! Par-tay.

Click click beep beep

2006-04-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

Aphex Twin - Richard D. James (1997)

Aphex Twin is Richard James. Richard James is Aphex Twin, AFX, Polygon Window, and numerous other aliases. Richard James is obsessed with the technical aspect of music, as a child, he tore apart his parent's piano to see how it worked on the inside. This sense of material music shows in his music, which fuses several different sounds that most not consider as normal musical means. Drum machines on light-speed, clicks and beeps, computerized samples, and the like. This was Richard's first experimentation into jungle music, with fierce drum samples placed over top of ambient arrangements similar to his early work, creating a powerful and thoughtful fusion of styles.

peek 824545301...

On another note, I have small request for any readers out there. I am reaching the limit of what normal torrents can do for me, and Limewire/Soulseek is becoming a non-possibility quickly. If anyone has a spare OiNK invite they could send me, that would be absolutely wonderful. You can just send it to my email on the sidebar, if you feel like it. Thank you!

Something old, something new.

2006-04-02T23:44:00.000-07:00

Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime (1984 r: 1990)

The Minutemen were a punk group out of San Pedro, a very, very, very creative punk group at that. No style was out of bounds, no concept too odd. The very pinnacle of their ideas came in the form of Double Nickels On The Dime, a 43-track behemoth with styles spanning from punk to polka to freeform jazz. An incredible achievement in it's time, and an even greater achievement now, it showed how incredibly varied punk and indie music could truly be with a little bit of effort. The good humor and indescribable passion of each of the three bands members has to be heard to be comprehended.

political song for michael jackson to sing...
(megaupload because it's over 100MB)

The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (2006)

I absolutely adore The White Stripes, and I had very high hopes for this album, which features Jack White and Brendan Benson, along with two other greasy looking motherfuckers. Honestly, it's not that memorable of an album, but it has it's moments. I know some of you are going to be expecting the whole album, so I won't just upload the good bits. It's a LOT like The White Stripes, don't listen to what the pre-release hype said. This isn't a major departure for White. Still a decent album, just not amazing like I hoped.

you've had too much to think, now you need a wife...

Low-fi gods

2006-04-02T18:27:00.000-07:00

Grandaddy - Sumday (2003)

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I haven't had a terribly good time of things this weekend. Shit happens. Anyways, here's some Grandaddy. Grandaddy is basically some excellent low-fi rock and roll, but where normally low-fi is really quite boring (in most cases, admit it), Grandaddy has a palpable greatness to it, their use of different melodies is very attention grabbing, despite the general softness of it all. Sadly, Grandaddy will be breaking up after the release of their latest album "Just Like The Fambly Cat", which has been leaked to the scene. The members may continue on to play music, just not under the Grandaddy name. Sad.

as she drifts out of reach, while he's still drunk asleep...

Depressing, dark indie rock

2006-03-31T19:44:00.000-08:00

Eels - Beautiful Freak (1996)

The Eels have been creating some depressing alternative rock for a decade now, and never fail at being really, really moody, for lack of a better word. Though Eels are promoted as a band, most of the credit should be placed on frontman E (real name Mark Everett), who's brilliant and descriptive lyrics play on the dark side of normal life. Often compared to Beck, Eels had a breakthrough single with Novocaine For The Soul, but sadly, never had a single quite that accepted again. Unfortunately, and quite undeservedly, they're labeled as a one-hit wonder because of that, when in fact they have been releasing constantly great albums for their whole careers.

goin' over to susan's house...

Canadian underground rap

2006-03-30T19:33:00.000-08:00

Swollen Members - Bad Dreams (2001)

As one of Canada's most prolific underground rap artists, Swollen Members blend dark lyrics with darker production recalling the RZA. Members of Battle Axe Records, also home to Moka Only and the Sweatshop Union, the pair of Mad Child and Prevail spit some ridiculous shit along with guest spots from several members of Dilated Peoples, DJ Revolution, and Buck 50. Mad Child and Prevail may not exactly be the most gangster of rappers, but their performances on this, and subsequent albums requires not explanation of their credibility. Check out Balance if you greatly enjoy this album, their later stuff becomes more mainstream, but is still excellent work.

pull words out of their dreams...

Hey, nice leak here

2006-03-29T21:19:00.000-08:00

Snow Patrol - Eyes Open (2006)

Hey, lookit that! It's the new Snow Patrol, one of my guilty pleasures. They're really only a typical brit-rock band in my view, but they're a really fucking good one. Final Straw had some very amazing moments (Run stands out as their greatest song), and some awesome, very soothing melodies. Final Straw was great, and this is almost the exact SAME THING! :D If you like bands like Keane, you'll like Snow Patrol. Great group.

headlights on dark roads...

The forerunners of alternative rock

2006-03-28T22:49:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur Jr. - You're Living All Over Me (1987 r: 2005)

Come on, I'm sure you all at least know of Dinosaur Jr. if you're here, but they're responsible for bringing strong guitar work to the front of indie again. Along with The Pixies in the early 90's, they helped establish bitchin' guitar solos and noise, influencing many, many alternative bands in the future. Recently they've gotten back together to do some festivals and such, and with any luck, a new album as well (wishful thinking, but it's a nice thought).

i guess i'll crawl...

rawr

2006-03-28T22:17:00.000-08:00

Tiger Bear Wolf - Tiger Bear Wolf (2005)

With the driving riffs and powerful vocals of bands such as Fugazi, Tiger Bear Wolf impress with their debut album. Some excellent lyrics, and simply awesome time changes help drive the album home. Though not overly spectuacular at any particular aspect of their music, they are so excellent at every part that it pushes with a greater power than one would expect. Hopefully there's another album on the horizen for these guys, and hopefully it's a little easier to find too.

i know there's something worth saving...

The world's finest garage rock

2006-03-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

Mando Diao - Hurricane Bar (2005)

This is probably one of the most criminally underlooked albums of the last several years. Mando Diao is the best modern garage rock album I've ever heard, and my favourite Swedish album of all time. Diao blends the melodic voices and guitars of Brit-rock bands like Oasis and the dirty, inner-city simplicity of The Strokes or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, along with a touch of Motown-style blues. "God Knows" is one of my top songs of all time. If you like this album, check out their earlier work on their first album Bring 'Em In.

well i saw her standing all covered in red...

Fire ze missiles!

2006-03-26T23:47:00.000-08:00

Daft Punk - Discovery (2001)

Here's definately one of my favourite albums of all time, and for sure my top electronic choice. Daft Punk originates from Paris, and while only having released three LP's in 12 years, they are one of the most recognizable and respected names in dance music with singles like "Around The World" and "Digital Love". One of my favourite early music memories is listening to the local rock station's live club broadcast on Saturday nights, where they played the long mix of "One More Time" every single time I listened in. I can't sing enough praises for this album, there's not a single bad cut on the entire thing. Absolutely essential in every way.

harder, better, faster, stronger...

Early pioneers of post-punk

2006-03-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

The Fall - This Nation's Saving Grace (1985; r: 1997)

Of the many, many 70's post-punk, few were more prolific, and none longer-lasting than The Fall. With more albums released than years the band has been in creation, it would be a crime not to recognize their contribution to music today. Songs like "Barmy" paved the way for dance-style riffs to be used in songs, and we all know where that has lead to today, with the new British music explosion. Throughout the years, the band has been through many a lineup change, but always at the centre has been Mark E. Smith, an icon of indie and college rock with his sarcastic lyrics and snarling, neigh-incomprehensible lyrics. This Nation's Saving Grace is arguably his greatest achievement, but if you like this album, be sure to get Hex Education Hour and Grotesque, both fine albums in themselves.

couldn't get ahead...

New Streets album!

2006-03-25T23:35:00.000-08:00

The Streets - The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (2006)

I'll admit first-hand, I am a huge fan of Mike Skinner aka The Streets. Many, many people hate the way he raps (it's extremely close to basically talking in a heavy accent over a beat), but there's a very honest way about him. He's the voice of a generation of English teens, and he does it with lyrical grace and powerful storytelling. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he always has spectacular covers for his albums. This is his latest album, containing the single "When You Wasn't Famous".

hotel expressionism...

Welcome to Say Hello To The Angels

2006-03-25T23:13:00.000-08:00

Hey, we all hate blogs, right? But this is a different kind of thing. In here, I'm going to post albums and all sorts of musical things, because I need to do this kind of stuff, makes me feel like I'm making a difference, you know? I could be compared to a chef, and I am posting decadent treats.