Hira Hira - We.Are.All.Xray.Pricks.No Talent.Fuck.Off.

Hira Hira
Screamo/Post Hardcore

1. Mouths Full of Calves Blood
2. Falling Disease
3. Over and Out
4. Invisible Animals
5. Dim City Lights
6. The Last Orders of Captain Mumbles 




I have an awful habit of trying to sing along to bands that, by all measurable means, you shouldn't be able to sing along to. And if you shouldn't do it, the rule applies double for me. Hira Hira are one of those bands that don't exactly write delightful shanties or a-yo-ho-ho, but evoke a kind of passion and enjoyment that gets you screaming along (even if you really, really shouldn't.)

I first heard these guys when I walked into a punk festival that I was almost certain was going to be all Oi and At the Rawk Show, and heard the severed end of Mouths Full of Calves Blood. The curiously heavy broken rhythm caught my attention, but when the group shouted "WHAT FOR THEN?!" I responded by politely dropping my shit and running to try and catch the rest of the show. Unfortunately, I was late, and that was their last song. What for, indeed.

Where I'm going with that anecdote is that I literally heard a minute and a half of music from afar, and knew that this was a band to hunt down. Lucky for everyone involved, this album is a free download, and now I get to tell you all about this wicked act. Enjoy.

 Click here to download Hira Hira - We.Are.All.Xray.Pricks.No Talent.Fuck.Off. at Bandcamp
http://hirahira.bandcamp.com/

Lion Cub - Flora/Fauna

Lion Cub
Indie

Flora/Fauna









Now, I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of what's become labelled as the "indie" sound (this is a huge misappropriation, actually - I've always regarded the whole scene as inexplicable and naive. How you all came together and decided a style of music sounded independant confuses me just as much as your thick rim glasses and tie-dyed underwear does), but in saying that, this is some indie trash that I actually dig. And now that I've officially lost all my hipster friends - sadface - I can say why.

I first heard Lion Cub on a Topshelf Records sampler that came to me via mail. As opposed to e-mail, mail is packaged hard-copy goods that appears in physical form at your door-step, you probably haven't heard of it. I wasn't too fond of that song, and thus, being semi-elitist when it comes to these things - I didn't hold much hope for the band and didn't look any further into them.

Now, are you ready for the complete hipster coup-de-d'état?

I heard this song through Topshelf Records Tumblr. And absolutely adore it. It's catchy, slightly upbeat, and just all kinds of flick-your-hair fun. I find myself anticipating the release of their new album. I find myself listening to this twelve or more times in a row. I just - uh. So if you're offended by all this totally in fashion hipster bashing, if you think it's hilarious, or if you just want to hear good music - give this a download.

To download Lion Cub "Flora/Fauna" click here and follow the prompts down the page to 'like' Topshelf Records on Facebook.

Tettix - Rites
Hip Hop/Classical/Remix

1. Part I: Introduction                9. Part II: Introduction
2. Dances of the Young Girls   10. Mystic Circles
3. Ritual of Abduction              11. Glorification of the One
4. Spring Rounds                       12. Summoning the Ancients
5. Rituals of Rival Tribes           13. Ritual of the Ancients
6. The Elder's Procession          14. Sacrificial Dance
7. Adoration of the Earth
8. Dance of the Earth


If you're anything like me and you like to keep on top of all the hip new music coming out these days, then you'll be familiar with Igor Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps (or The Rite of Spring). Released in 1913, the Rite of Spring quickly became a hit amongst classical music hipsters and composer wankers, and deals with the story of a girl dancing herself to death at a pagan ritual of sorts. However, dancing to death along with Stravinsky's vision of this music is not nearly as easy as dancing in general to Tettix's vision.

Tettix is a self-proclaimed very friendly musician from Atlanta, and what he's done here is simply amazing.

He has taken The Rite of Spring from it's free domain, remixed it, sampled it, and added some awesome beats to it. The story remains the same, but the delivery excels in being epic. Without much else to say than "This is a goddamn remix of a classical composition, listen to it!" I'll leave on the note that this is easily one of my favourite finds on the internet.

Click here to download Tettix - Rites from Tettix.net

Shinsplints - Set Sail
Melodic Hardcore/Folk Punk

1. Gateway City Serenade
2. Times Infinity
3. Egotistical Drowning
4. Set Sail





CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN! OH, CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN! 

Shinsplints know how to keep their voice gruff, their guitars fuzzy, and their songs crisp. Great for sing-a-longs, drinking, and sinking ships. So, I guess, if you're drinking when your boat hits an embankment and a pound of explosives you were keeping strapped to the front ignites and sends you flying back out to sea and you couldn't think of any better way to go than singing - make sure this is in your collection.

Hell, keep this in your collection even if there's only a minute possibility of that happening.

Click here to download Shinsplints - Set Sail from Bandcamp

(Short) Best of 2010 list.

Unfortunately, a lot of the best records this year have been commercial releases that you can(not) download for free. But that doesn't mean there hasn't been a shit tonne of sweet free albums that we can get. Let's have a look at some.

The Marriage - Vultures Be Their Kings
Metalcore/Post Hardcore

1. We Own the Hatred 
2. Bear Witness
3. Fall & Ressurection 
4. This Gladiator Knows of No Choir of Desperation
5. Cursed Thy Feathers, Blessed Thy Swords
6. Euryale 
7. They Fly In Circles/The End is Nigh




We're already used to the Marriage. Don't get me wrong when I say these guys aren't doing anything new, I mean they're everything that's already been done in metallic post-hardcore, but, really, don't get me wrong, because they do it fucking well. For fans of that whole heavy sound, from Norma Jean and Converge to the heavier moments of UnderOATH and Amity Affliction. This is a hell solid release that'll have you moshing, punching, kicking, jumping, and generally acting like all good little girls should.

Click here to download The Marriage - Vultures Be Their Kings from Bandcamp
Click here to download Introducing the Marriage from Bandcamp

Sledding With Tigers - No Randy No! 
Folk Punk

1. The 405 (Is For Lovers?) 
2.  Not Trying to Be Awkward
3. In Response To All The Songs Erich Beckmann Writes
4. Love Songs Are Dumb Songs, But I Like 'Em Anyway
5. Smile! Why Not?!? 
6. Hey Vanessa! 




Sledding With Tigers got it right from the get go for me - simply by naming their band after a reference to Calvin & Hobbes. This is a short album (clocking in at about ten minutes), and by that I mean I've taken shits that have lasted longer than this. But none of my shits have made me feel quite so warm inside. Sledding With Tigers come in my favourite form of folk punk. Group sing-a-longs and acoustic guitars in vein of an early Against Me! without so much political angst, and a little bit of Bright Eyes after taking Prozac. Every time I listen to it, I listen to it for at least half an hour.

Click here to download Sledding With Tigers - No Randy No! from Bandcamp

Comadre - Mix Tape Vol. 4 
 Post Hardcore

1. Intro 
2. Good Night Sweet Prince (feat. Dead To Me) 
3. Hamlets Remix (feat. P.O.S. and Atlas) 
4. Sleep is the Cousin of Death (feat. Ghostlimb) 
5. 18 Wheels (feat. Glasses and Trainwreck) 
6. King Jeremy (feat. Broadway Calls)  



Easily one of the best things to happen this year. A Comadre Mix Tape is always something to wait for and celebrate, but when these chaotic screamo beasts collaborate with the likes of punks Dead to Me, hip-hop kings P.O.S. and Atlas, and dirty rockers Trainwreck, well, that's an entitlement to one of the best free releases ever. Get this because you're not entirely human without it.

Click here to download Comadre - Mix Tape Vol 4 from mediafire
Click here to visit Comadre's blog

Oh, Apollo! - Twin Peaks

Oh, Apollo!
Twin Peaks 

Tracklist: 
(Black Mountain)                       (White Mountain)
1. Cass' Clockwork Army          1. Cross Creek
2. Suspended Over Palms          2. Peter Pan
3. Mark Twain                            3. Basement
                                                     4. Common Owl                        4. Bleach

Unfortunately, if you hadn't heard of Oh, Apollo! before this, you missed out. This now defunct San Frannies screamo act jet packed (with knives and velociraptor sidekicks) to the top of my oh-em-eff-gee-best-ever lists in less than one song, and stayed there through out everything they released. Now, fortunately for you guys that aren't with the times, you can download their whole discography for free. All of it. For nada. 

Exactly. 

I've decided to focus this post on Twin Peaks, not because it's their best in my mind (and heart, of which Kingdoms has seduced and ran away with), but because it's probably their most accessible and critically acclaimed (hey, other internet critics!)

Twin Peaks is a duel EP (Black vs. White mountains) that delivers. I almost think of it as Taffy - Black Mountain is catchy, and delivers some inital kicks while it sticks to your teeth, before White Mountain fills your mouth with bitter-sweet awesome until you eventually swallow and go back and listen to it again. And again.

Of course, after listening to this, you will go back and have the rest, too.

Click here to download Oh, Apollo! - Twin Peaks from Last.fm
Click here to download Oh, Apollo! - Kingdoms from Last.fm
http://www.myspace.com/ohapollo

DJ Slippery Eeel - The Tapes

DJ Slippery Eeel
Rap/Hip Hop

Track list: 
1. Liver Quiver             9. Rawkbells     
2. Ruckus                    10. Teenbeet
3. Thin Line                 11. Boomboxatron
4. Did I Stutter?          12. The Quantize Kid
5. Breakdown              13. Which is Brew?
                                                  6. Gutter Drum            14. Stabs
                                                 7. Clack                        15. Tintabulate
                                                 8. Dazedream              16. 3k
                                                                                      17. Dedication


Essentially this is a 'beats album'. Those unfamiliar with the terminology of the get-hoe, that means focus here is on the creation of the beats more than the meaning or structure of the song. It's a good thing then that DJ Slippery Eeel has made for us some fantastic hip hop beats, as well as some decent songs (song songs). 


The beats found on The Tapes are super chill, and make you feel nothing like a jive turkey. Some where between gangsta rap, trip hop and garage you'll find that spot that makes you feel like a you're wearing sunglasses at night, surrounded by women, in a bombed out den on the side of town your mother doesn't want you to be on - and that's what this album makes me feel like. 

You'll hear some create mash ups that'll leave you in familiar territory, as well as some more obscure raps coming in and out, and have a massive party all the while. Sippin' on champagne, here's to Slippery Eeel.  

Click here to download DJ Slippery Eeel - The Tapes from Bandcamp 
http://djeeel.bandcamp.com/