Passenger - Wicked Man's Rest

Tracklist:

01. Wicked Man's Rest
02. Things You've Never Done
03. Walk You Home
04. Stray Dog
05. Do What You Like
06. Four Horses
07. Needle In The Dark
08. For You
09. Walk In The Rain
10. Table For One

Genre: Pop Folk-Rock
Website: www.myspace.com/passengerofficial
Release Date: 2007-09-17
Label: Chalkmark Records

Passenger was formed when Brighton(UK)-based singer Mike Rosenberg bonded over bong hits with soundtrack composer Andrew Phillips (don't look at me, I just tell it like the release note says it is). One year later they were joined by their final three members: a kickboxing bassist, Israeli drummer, a former-member-of-a-DJ-Shadow-cover-band keyboardist.

The fact that they have a soundtrack composer in the band is the most unsurprising bit of knowledge if you listen to the album beforehand. This album is a truly wonderfully made album. The songs sound like they belong in movies and TV series, backdropping those "moments" with such finesse that you can actually feel for the actors. Not even kidding. Impeccable production helps the instruments shine through in these neatly arranged layers.

This musical tidiness is propped up further with singing that to me sounds like a mix between Brett Dennen and David Gray. The first track you're going to hear has this tip-toeing piano that I love and also splices in sound bites like Tyler Durden. The most bare-bone song of the bunch is track 10 (close tie with track 08) so give that an ear too. It sounds like the last song on the album should: conclusive.

Buy this album or come over and listen to it sometime. Use your ears.

Cocoon - I Hate Birds

Tracklist:

01. Take Off
02. On My Way
03. Tell Me
04. I Don't Give A Shit
05. Between Me And The Sun

Genre: Indie Folk
Website: www.myspace.com/listentococoon
Release Date: 2006-05-13
Label: Sober & Gentle / Discograph

You've all heard Cocoon before if you've checked out JwK | 13. The song On My Way is actually not from this EP but from a full length album released this year. Cocoon, interestingly enough, is a French duo who mix together vocals, guitar, piano, and banjo into less-than-subtly emotive songs. It also couldn't get much cooler considering they reside in the Panda Mountains, France (I'm pretty sure this place doesn't actually exist).

I Hate Birds is Cocoon's first release. It's pretty short and the version of On My Way included on this EP is substantially more raw and uncut than the version you're used to by now. Track 4 is going to be on a soon-to-be-posted yet-to-be-named mix and sounds almost exactly like Iron & Wine but it would be unfair to umbrella Cocoon underneath such a stereotype. Their songs on their EP's manage to pleasantly get around a little instead of lazily dragging through the same rutted genres.

Track 1 is also reminiscent of Iron & Wine. Track 3 has an eerily familiar depressed guitar progression which suckers me in after the first full measure passes and is also where the EP title comes from. And don't get me wrong, Iron & Wine is not a bad band to be compared to. It is also worth noting that I did not post their full length album because I found it a little tiresome but I suspect it was because I was not in the mood for this type of music when I was earing it the first few times around (because to double check I am listening to it now and it's really pretty dece).

Have ya 'eard?

Gabriel Rios - Morehead

Tracklist:

01. Voodoo Child
02. Baby Lone Star (First Ever Version)
03. Wish (Alternate Version)
04. Porque Te Vas
05. I'm Gonna Die Tonight (First Ever Version)
06. For The Wolves (Acoustic Version)
07. Dink's Song

Genre: Acoustic Folk/Roots Indie
Website: www.gabrielrios.be
Release Date: 2007-11-21
Label: Megadisc

Woke up a little early so that I could catch back up on some posts and remind yall that I've got dozens of musicians/bands that are achin' to get some attention from the ears of the world. All in due time.

So by now you've probably heard of Gabriel Rios. The song Broad Daylight made it onto my mixes back when it first came out. It's still a great song full of random lyrics at haphazard paces (Schneider anyone?), hand-clapping, stepping-stone piano and choral backups. I was recently reading a short bio on Gab and it turns out that at the tender age of four he put on a superman outfit and tried to fly off of a couch. He subsequently landed on a glass vase, cut his eye, was stitched up at the hospital (twelve stitches) and loved the eyepatch. Anyways... lol.

Morehead, from what I can gather, is a promo album? It's a little hard to say because the only websites offering information are in German and I'm too lazy right now to use the Google translate webpage tool. This promo disc, or super-short release, is full of little gems that we all wish we could have from our favorite artists. Original, acoustic, and alternate versions as well as covers give a more unbiased view of an artist whose tracks trended towards over-production i.e. too many layers.

Since Gabriel isn't on iTunes (except for a single (song) collaboration done with Michael Franti) and I'm guessing you won't find this album without going through a lot of trouble, I'm sharing three tracks. Conveniently the first is where the acoustic flavors shine through, the second (track shared, which is track 3) is a blend between some groove and acoustic, and the third (track 5) is full on dub-steez Gab Reez.

Ear dem good sounz.

Indie Mix 2 Nov 2007

Tracklist:

01. Ryan Ferguson - Kill My Confidence
02. Stuck In Sound - Toyboy
03. King Creosote - You've No Clue Do You
04. Andrew Bird - Imitosis
05. Friska Viljor - Four Points
06. Milburn - Lucy Lovemenot
07. Crosbi - Sonny
08. The KBC - Hear It Out
09. Aaron - O Song
10. Mugison - Go Blind
11. Maximo Park - Girls Who Play Guitars
12. Benzos - Sell This Thing
13. I Might Be Wrong - This Way Better
14. Cass McCombs - That's That
15. Melody Club - Take Me Away
16. The Thrills - That Boy
17. Jonas Thomassen And JT Scam - Exercise
18. Hey Rosetta - Yes Yes Yes
19. Parlour Steps - Hot Romance
20. Moneybrother - Magic Moments
21. Dikta - Breaking The Waves
22. Chucky Danger - Bones

Yet another day of endless econ work for me... exactly the reason why I finished this mix last week and got too lazy to get it up here for yall. This indie mix is different from the last one in the sense that I consider it more of an indie mix for the indie-hearted. Basically I consider most of these indie songs as being noisier but still tasteful.

side note: I noticed there are some pretty random people poking their heads into this blog (Russia, UK, Spain, southern Texas?). Happy to have you and will be happier if you post a comment and say hello. lol.

No more time for writing but that doesn't mean you don't have time for earing.

The Juju Orchestra - Bossa Nova Is Not A Crime

Tracklist:

01. This Is Not A Tango
02. What Is Hip
03. Kind Of Latin Rhythm
04. Take Four
05. Do It Again
06. El Bravo
07. Nao Posso Demorar
08. Funky Nassau
09. The Hip Shake

Genre: Latin/Jazz/Funk
Website: www.myspace.com/bossanovaisnotacrime
Release Date: 2007-03-19
Label: Agogo Records

Before I get down to some serious econ business for the rest of the day I thought I'd keep it international by presenting you with this German group. Mostly just three people, two for the music and one for the business, The Juju Orchestra actually raises up to twelve members for their live shows. It's a rainy day so maybe this will keep that pep in your step while you're puddlejumping.

You're welcome to those friends of mine that love to get their groove on and a fat apology to the other friends who prefer to get their mood on. I'll be sure to "revert to the mean" which tends to be indie/song-writers. Don't blame the messenger, lol.

Use your ears.

Guts - Le Bienheureux

Tracklist:

01. Intro
02. Good Morning
03. Everybody Know
04. You Know Dat Shit!!!
05. Escucha Me
06. Metis
07. Nightmare of Paries
08. Take A Look Around You
09. Pura-Vida
10. Skunkfunk
11. Cry & Smile
12. And The Living Is Easy!!!
13. Sweet Love
14. Endless Night
15. Narco Trip
16. I Love You It's So Hard To Say

Genre: Electronica/Hip-Hop/Jazz
Website: www.myspace.com/gutslebienheureux
Release Date: 2007-09-24
Label: Wax On

Le Bienheureux are the neatly wrapped goodies baked by the five star Parisian beat chef known as Guts. There's not so much actual hip-hop on this album but all the beats could be used as tracks for flowin' 'n freestylin'. Gives me a smile to finally stumble across some more bigbeat basslines for your groovin' needs.

Ears to the turntable. (There are more good tracks... try 11, 13, etc)

Christopher Blue - Room Tones

Tracklist:

01. Ghost In The Night
02. After All I've Heard You Say
03. Such Love
04. Equanimity
05. The Moon I Dream Of
06. These Times
07. Good Time Baby
08. Alone
09. What You need
10. Mandrake
11. Outtake
12. Disquietude
13. Scarecrow

Genre: Indie Soul
Website: n/a
Release Date: 2007-04-17
Label: Sarathan Records

May I present you Christopher Blue... another singer-songwriter who thankfully manages to do his own thang. Originally part of the Seattle music scene (where my bro is currently strumming away), Chris ended up calling Mendocino, CA home. It's good stuff, unheard of but not unbelievable, yet still I find myself listening to his songs over and over to decide if I like it or love it. I think I like it. Yeah.

Time's short this week. You'll get more music with less talk. Ears please.

Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye

Tracklist:

01. Double Shadow
02. The Equalizer
03. First Time
04. Count Souvenirs
05. In The Morning
06. So This Is Goodbye
07. Like A Child
08. Caught In A Wave
09. When No One Cares
10. FM

Genre: Electronica/Electro-Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/juniorboys
Release Date: 2007-06-05
Label: Domino

Junior Boys originally began with Jeremy Greenspan and Johnny Dark. As years passed and not much came of it Johnny parted ways, leaving Jeremy to partner up with Matthew Didemus (the engineer). While mixing their beats in Ontario, Canada, they became well known for their remixes (e.g. of Fennesz, Mobius Band) with the release of just their first four track EP.

Overall the Junior Boys are pretty cool. There are songs that I love and others that I hate and none in the middle. Junior Boys are also pretty weird. I put track 5 on the indy mix below and if you haven't heard it yet then you haven't heard my favorite song on this album. I love that thick and textured synth layer doing the bass line when track 5 opens up. As layers are added it blossoms from a weird sega-game-music-theme into a great poppy song worth a few repeats in the car.

Besides track 5, tracks 2 and 8 are the most universally tolerable tracks I could ask you to ear so I trust you won't be terribly disappointed even if you're not into this kinda music.

Salmonella Dub - Heal Me

Tracklist:

01. Watching It Rain
02. Beat The Game
03. Love Sunshine And Happiness
04. Lightning
05. Heal Me
06. Rong
07. Gifts
08. That Easy
09. Seeds
10. Nothing Is Free

Genre: Dub Reggae
Website: www.salmonelladub.com
Release Date: 2007-07-23
Label: EMI/Virgin

It's been several months since this was released but I'm guessing not everybody has either heard of them or gotten around to checking out their latest album. Although by no means their best album, Heal Me still puts forth a few bumpety dubs for those of you with a need to get your dub on. It sounds like electro-fied alternative reggae but there are a few tracks that manage to escape those boundaries.

Tracks 1, 3, and 9. Get your earful.

Ugly Americans - Stereophonic Spanish Fly

Tracklist:

01. Vulcan Death Grip
02. White Is The Wine
03. Big Wild World
04. You Turn Me On
05. Find Me
06. Staring Straight Into The Sun
07. Electric Magnetic Love Thang Experience
08. Nothing To Lose
09. Losing You
10. Captain Lubritron
11. Angelina

Genre: 90's Rock (iTunes says Country... what?...only track 9)
Website: www.bobschneidermusic.com
Release Date: 1995-02-14
Label: Capricorn Records

Taking a quick break from reading to bring your attention to this fine Ugly Americans album aka mid-90's-Schneider awesomeness album. While home for Thanksgiving I was getting some textbooks out of my closet and ran across this album. Bob Schneider has so many random albums out there from his different bands that I had a mental slip and forgot I never ripped the CD to my computer.

Schneider released two albums as the Ugly Americans frontman. Their songs are totally 90's style rock and Bob still gets to sing about stuff that doesn't have to make sense to sound good (he's a pro at that). December 7th is coming up people so if you're heading to Indianapolis make sure you get a lil' sum'in sum'in from the many moods of Schneider for an appetizer.

Ears. Now.

Fink - Distance And Time

Tracklist:

01. Trouble's What You're In
02. This Is The Thing
03. If Only
04. Blueberry Pancakes
05. Get Your Share
06. Under The Same Stars
07. So Many Roads
08. Make It Good
09. Little Blue Mailbox

Genre: Dub Folk, Acoustic Alternative
Website: www.myspace.com/finkmusic
Release Date: 2007-11-13
Label: Ninja Tunes

I once read a review that said the singer-songwriter genre has become sullied by the myriad of sub-par musician wannabes calling themselves singer-songwriters who've glutted the up-and-coming scene in the last few years. I tend to agree (you all haven't the slightest idea of the crap that I have to listen to while doing homework, or even the sheer quantity of bad music out there). So it's always nice to have one that really really stands out not just through quality of craftsmanship but through finally putting forth a fresh style of singing and songwriting.

Distance and Time is the latest album from Fink. Most of his other releases have been a slew of EP's and good ones at that. Fink has this ability to make metronomically simplistic drum beats and guitar progressions that with the help of his wispy, lingering vocals has you instantly addicted. It's dark but not pitch black and you can listen to him and love it without getting down on yourself.

However you'd describe his music I'm pretty sure "good" will come up somewhere in the adjectives list. Personally I'm just psyched that I finally got my copy of this album and can share it with your ears too. Enjoy earing the first and last tracks. One day I'll get around to sharing my thoughts on his other EP's.

Shinichi Osawa - The One

Tracklist:

01. Star Guitar
02. Detonator
03. Electro411
04. Our Song
05. Dreamhunt
06. Push
07. Rendezvous
08. The Patch
09. Last Days
10. State Of Permission
11. Foals
12. The Golden
13. Maximum Joy
14. Ami Nu Ku Tuu

Genre: Electropop, Electro
Website: www.shinichi-osawa.com
Release Date: 2007-09-26
Label: Tower Records

Shinichi Osawa has to be one of the coolest names to have. I think so in part because there are so few Japanese artists that receive any attention in the US (that's mostly their fault for their huge J-Pop fanbase). Now that you've heard his name how about you learn a little something about him. He's a bassist, remixer, DJ, and producer. He began recording 18 years ago and has recorded quite a few albums spanning some interesting genres such as R&B and Acid Jazz. If you've ever heard of Mondo Grosso (i love that name), Shinichi has always been the man behind the name.

This album is what would happen if Daft Punk went clubbing with guest vocalists. I love Daft Punk and guest vocalists are always fun and the combination of the the two concepts produces something that's fun to listen to when you're in the mood to groove to weird noise rhythm. By no means is the entire album a gift to my music library because there are the few songs for which I can't find an occasion(that's a lie, i just don't have any desire to pretend i'm a robot and robot around my apartment... that's a lie too... try track 12, lol).

Anyways, you get some more friendly tracks than the ones I've been listening to for the past 30 minutes over breakfast. You've got track 1, the one that hooked me, and track 10, the one that manages to be far enough from track 1 but still relatively composed like a song you'd expect to ear here.

Let's see what your ears have to say.

Kingsfoil - The Almond Tree EP

Tracklist:

01. Chocolate Rose
02. Come On
03. Our View
04. Down To 107
05. Always Good to Be Feeling Better

Genre: Acoustic Pop
Website: www.myspace.com/kingsfoil
Release Date: 2005-08-19
Label: n/a

Kingsfoil is a trio of young lads from York, PA who (in my opinion) have stylistic schizophrenia. Each of their four releases to date sounds completely unlike the other. From Pop/Roots Rock to attempted Indie/Alt-Classic Rock to successful Indie, they do well at tweaking the different genres around their unique style of songwriting.

This EP is up here mostly because a song off their more recent EP (the successful Indie one) is gonna be on the next mix and yall could use a little background. If you get anxious you can always check that EP out (Bear In The Attic) before you ear it from me. Back to this EP; it's not great but its far from bad. The lyrics are borderline cheesy but somehow it doesn't bother me as much as cheesy lyrics usually do.

Earnote: this is rawdog acoustic so it's nothing to go around bumpin'. It's for cold days when you're shuffling feet and watching dead leaves claw their way across asphault.

Donavon Frankenreiter - Recycled Recipes

Tracklist:

01. Wondering Where The Lions Are
02. Theologians
03. Such A Night
04. Fortunate Son
05. It Makes No Difference
06. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

Genre: Roots Folk
Website: www.donavonf.com
Release Date: 2007-08-18
Label: Lost Highway Records

Donavon Frankenreiter got his break a while ago cuz of his ties with Jack Johnson (they surfed together... coincidentally Jack also got his break when beaching with G. Love). While in Tahiti four years ago I met a guy named Adam who runs a surf school outside of L.A. He was surfing in Tahiti and we got to talking about music and it turns out he grew up with Donavon and passed me a few tracks from a band called Sunshine. Turns out that Sunshine was the first band Donavon was in as lead singer and although I've since lost the CD I still have this song called Vagabond. It's probably my favorite song from a band I know nothing about and will never ever be able to find music from.

So yeah. Donavon Frankenreiter definitely belongs in the same vein as Jack Johnson. It's all the rage of singer-songwritering with simple bar chord progressions and earthy vocal overtones. Don't get me wrong. It works. But unlike Jack, Donavon has always kept it simpler than it should be and never had enough variety for me to truly enjoy more than a few of his songs in a row. THANKFULLY he came out with this album because it is at least a nice change to hear something calmer. It's like an unplugged album where instead of chord strumming there's fingerpicking.

It works and at only six tracks it's hard to complain or get tired of him. Ear it and find out if you agree.

Eric Hutchinson - Sounds Like This

Tracklist:

01. Ok It's Alright With Me
02. You Don't Have To Believe Me
03. Outside Villanova
04. Food Chain
05. Rock & Roll
06. Oh!
07. All Over Now
08. It Hasn't Been Long Enough
09. Back To Where I Was
10. You've Got You

Genre: Blues Folk
Website: www.erichutchinson.com
Release Date: 2007-10-25
Label: n/a

Speaking of artists that I go way back with... here we have Eric Hutchinson's latest album. I remember being in high school and first stumbling upon this guy at freshtracksmusic (this is not an advertisement, lol). Needless to say, Eric Hutchinson has been around awhile but hasn't necessarily had too much to show for it. About two years ago (?) he released a short live album called Before I Sold Out but that was barely enough to get me by until this release.

I have to say I really dig this album. Eric's voice has become sharper than it already was and his songs sound much more professional (probably thanks to some good studio time and I could also argue that this is a bad thing but I'll leave it alone). Rock and Roll was on his first album and it's still soundin' good on this one. Take my advice and get this album... the debate comes down to which song to play favorites with and let me tell you it's a tough choice.

Track 2 happens to be my favorite but you got it on JwK | 13 so instead you've got tracks 1 and 9. Ear it, groove it, love it.

Ben Harper & The I.C. - Lifeline

Tracklist:

01. Fight Outta You
02. In The Colors
03. Fool For A Lonesome Train
04. Needed You Tonight
05. Having Wings
06. Say You Will
07. Younger Than Today
08. Put It On Me
09. Heart Of Matters
10. Paris Sunrise #7
11. Lifeline

Genre: Folk Blues, Roots Rock
Website: www.benharper.net
Release Date: 2007-08-28
Label: Virgin Records

Ben Harper has made a lot of music, covered a lot of different genres, and collaborated with quite a few people (notably Jack Johnson, Toots & The Maytals, John Mayer, G. Love, Willie Nelson, Blind Boys of Alabama). I can't say I love all his stuff but on the whole he is a highly preferred musician on my summer/beach playlists.

This album does not sit so well on my musical palate. The two tracks for your ears are tracks 2 and 6... essentially the only two I can hear more than once and actually want to hear again. Ben Harper certainly is a man who likes to push the limits of his styles and as such I am not so much surprised that he wrote these songs as I am that I don't like almost all of them. I get too many tastes of previous melodies in his vocals. (Tracks 4 and 5 are not too bad but still not on my lovin' list)

Don't take my word for it. Ear it for yourself and if you like it more than me? Kudos cuz your playlists will get more from this album than mine.

Ari Hest - The Break-In

Tracklist:

01. When And If
02. Bird Never Flies
03. Leaving Her Alone
04. So Slow
05. When To Quit
06. Right Of Way
07. The Break-In
08. Big Ben
09. Just As Well
10. I've Got You

Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Acoustic Pop
Website: www.arihest.com
Release Date: 2007-10-04
Label: Project 4 Records

Ari and I... we go way back. I started listening to this guy in high school and when I got to MUOhio he conveniently played semi-regularly at local bar Stadium for my first couple of years there (that was around the same time as Dan Darrah). He has since gotten too big for a venue like Stadium considering he came back during my 4th year at Miami and played at Millett in the style of a real concert versus that of a gig.

He's released four albums before this one, some of which I love more than the others. This one is pretty succinct with only 10 tracks on it. I like them all. Maybe the title track is a little slow for me (but not nearly as hard to get through as listening to him play Hallelujah live... which although beautiful took for f*cking ever considering he was playing to a drunk crowd who didn't want to pass out while swaying back and forth to the song). I'm just being picky. It's a good song. You'll like this album if this kinda genre is your thing.

Track 2 is pretty fly for Ari Hest. It's got this dark-angry-folk feel to it. I'd prefer to share another early track (such as track 1) but you know my self-imposed policy on spreading the love out. Just As Well is a good track... a basic song with good sounds and a very traditionally "Ari Hest" chorus melody. I'd have shared Big Ben, but if you're being diligent about checking out this blog you'd already have it (see below).

Ear it. Love it.

Note: Itunes has a bonus track which is half-dece if you wanna check it out

Problem Fix

I just wanted to apologize to whomever unsuccessfully tried to listen to most of the songs on the Alt Mix. I just fixed the problems with the URL's and now you may actually ear the love.

JwK | 13

There was once a time when I regularly made mixes for a particular friend of mine. That time has since come and gone but somehow I'm back with another one (just as the weeds in the sidewalk cracks who seem beyond revival in the winter manage to resurrect for spring). As you can see, this is #13 and was preceded by no fewer than 12 half-decent mixes. I'm not sure how I'd summarize these mixes... probably along the lines of an if-i-made-soundtracks-for-shows-like-the-OC-or-movies-like-Garden-State mix. However you categorize it, just remember to leave it in this order if you can.

I think it's worth mentioning that my friend probably wouldn't want me sharing this mix with everyone (it clearly detracts from the intrinsic value of having the only copy of any given mix) but the purpose of this blog is to share with all my friends and not just one. Plus, there are two extremely good reasons. 1) This is the perfect way for my friend to get the tracklist and 2) I have someone close to my musical (and real) heart in Italy right now who deserves to hear the best.

Ear it and enjoy.

01. Eric Hutchinson - You Don't Have To Believe Me
02. Aaron Ross - When The Night
03. Derby - If Ever There's A Reason
04. Oren Lavie - Her Morning Elegance
05. Hot Rocket - The Dododo Song
06. Dan Wilson - Baby Doll
07. Nine Black Alps - Bitter End
08. Angus & Julia Stone - Paper Aeroplane
09. Air Traffic - No More Running Away
10. Ari Hest - Big Ben
11. Cocoon - On My Way
12. Judy Tzuke - Enjoy The Ride (Morcheeba Remix)
13. The White Buffalo - Where Dirt And Water Collide
14. Alex Cornish - My World What A Mess
15. Fink - This Is The Thing
16. The Colorful Quiet - Survival
17. Emily Haines and Soft Skeleton - Our Hell
18. The Classic Crime - Blindfolded
19. Trolle and Siebenhaar - Sweet Dogs
20. Urusen - Now That She Has Flown
21. Soular - You Taste, You Feel
22. Ride Your Bike - We All Have Our Own Shoes

Note: I like to push the time limits on the 80 minute cd so be sure to edit the time between tracks to half a second instead of two seconds or you will not fit this mix on one disc.

Note Note: Track 22 doesn't really fit. I dont know why i put it on there... but i like it...

Alt Mix 1 Nov 2007

01. Jupiter One - Countdown
02. The Crash Motive - Not Giving Up
03. The Lives Of Famous Men - You're Everyone I Know Right Now
04. Hedley - Bones Shatter (Never Say Never)
05. Funeral For A Friend - The Great Wide Open
06. H-Blockx - Self Conversation
07. Mayday Parade - When I Get Home You're So Dead
08. The Electric Diorama - Oh Dear Now I'm Sure I hate You
09. The Almost - Stop It
10. Rides Again - Wonder Why
11. All Time Low - Six Feet Under The Stars
12. Orson - Ain't No Party
13. The Hot Lies - Burn For Me
14. Motion City Soundtrack - Everything Is Alright
15. +44 - When The Heart Stops Beating
16. Paper Rival - You're Right
17. Falling Up - Goodnight Gravity
18. We The Kings - Skyway Avenue
19. Days Away - Talk It Over
20. Cartel - Wasted
21. Bullets And Octane - The Perfect Bitch
22. Goodnight Sunrise - Routine And Dollar Signs (Acoustic Remix)

It's time for new music again fellas. This is what I call Alternative to Pop-Punk... cuz it starts at one and works its way towards the other. Sorta. I'll have another indie mix up here soon so just keep on earing what I'm earing and let it spread that good feeling that good music gives you.

Augustana - Dust (Live)

I recently had a request for two Augustana songs: Dust and Reasons. The only way to get these is to strip videos (youtube) of their audio and make an mp3 out of it. Biggest problem here is finding a video with good enough audio. This was the best version of Dust I could find. I'm still working on reasons. Enjoy earing it and excuse the minor clipping when it gets loud cuz thats the cams mic topping out.

Augustana - Dust (Live)

Indie Mix 1 Nov 2007

My internet was pretty f*cked for the past couple of days, hence no updates. In any event I've been shuffling through some of my music from the past few months and decided to make a few mixes so you can see what I listen to, how I bundle tunes, and ultimately listen to new bands! Indie is a pretty encompassing genre so some of the songs on this mix might straddle the line.

01. Wintersleep - Archaeologists
02. Milburn - Come Away With Me
03. Grand Pm - Exit To The World
04. The Reason - We're So Beyond This
05. John Connor - Death List Five
06. The Styles - Glitter Hits
07. Rilo Kiley - Dreamworld
08. Malajube - Montreal -40c
09. Umbrellas - Again And Again
10. Admiral Twin - Take Me Down
11. With Me - Paper Birds
12. Say Hi - Shakes Her Shoulders
13. Jérôme Minière - Hivers
14. The Flies - Temptress
15. Liam Finn - Second Chance
16. Kate Nash - Dickhead
17. Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther (Remix)
18. Chucky Danger - What If
19. Junior Boys - In The Morning
20. Bennystrange - Nowhere Left To Run

Usually I make mixes in specific orders... this one was just rough so if you have a better order to put them in, go for it. Try it my way though.

Matt Pond PA - Last Light

Tracklist:

01. Last Light
02. People Have A Way
03. Located The Pieces
04. Wild Girl
05. Honestly
06. Taught To Look Away
07. Sunlight
08. Basement Parties
09. Until The East Coast Ends
10. Foreign Bedrooms
11. The Crush
12. Giving It All Away
13. Its Not So Bad At All

Genre: Indie-Rock/Pop
Website: www.mattpondpa.com
Release Date: 2007-09-25
Label: Altitude

Matt Pond has managed to compose over six albums, each of which brings his fans closer to what the world looks like through his eyes. His previous album, Several Arrows Later, may still reign champion over other releases, but Last Light does take us in a rather new direction. The songs are infused with emotionally bittersweet melodies...

I trail off because here come the "things to note." The melodies Matt Pond uses to weave his voice into the song sound tired and forever attached to his former works. The same vocal progressions! It's Matt Pond though and if you've listened to his other albums you will probably laugh and tell me I'm only stating the obvious. True. There is also less cello here than I would like.

Maybe I'm wrong but I also feel less connected to Matt Pond's songs through him as I feel connected to the band playing with him. I want more Matt, less band, except more cello. Tracks 2 and 11 for you: pop to angry. If you check out more and are feeling really mellow then check out track 6.

Tété - Le Sacre Des Lemmings

Tracklist:

01. L'aube Des Lemmings
02. Fils De Cham
03. Anna Lee Soleil
04. Madeleine Bas-De-Laine
05. La Relance
06. Comme Feuillets Au Vent
07. Caroline Oh Yeah Hey!
08. A La Vie A La Mort
09. Le Sacre Des Lemmings
10. A Flanc De Certitudes
11. Mon Tresor
12. Par Monts Et Vallons
13. Les Visages Et Les Moments
14. La Croisee Des Chemins
15. Le Crepuscule Des Lemmings

Genre: Folk/Blues/Singer-Songwriter
Website: www.myspace.com/tete75
Release Date: 2006
Label: Epic

He was born in Africa, raised in France, and grew up listening to The Beatles. Now he lays soulful vocals over blues-infused acoustic guitar.

I'm happy to share a couple tracks off this album with yall even if they mean more to those francophonic friends of mine. This album has a few more Spanishified vibes going on. The third track will help convince you of that. Track 8 is a personal favorite. Tough call but you can check out the rest of his album sometime and find your own favorites.

Tété's music has always been difficult to come by but if I can get other albums of his they are equally deserving of some space here at ear it now. Keep an ear out.

I love almost the entire album so ear it now for yourself.

Bob Schneider - I Have Seen The End Of The World And This Is What It Looks Like

Tracklist:

01. Hello Life
02. Moneyonion
03. Dolphins
04. Samurai
05. Everyhour Everyday
06. The Enemy Inside Of Me
07. Molly
08. Windows Of The Sun
09. Falling In Love With Jill Kotowski
10. Cannonball
11. The Tiger And The Lamb
12. Lazy
13. Betting On Disaster
14. The New Warrior
15. Concrete Pie
16. Swimsuit Reason
17. The Return Of The Antman
18. Idiot Test
19. Honeybomb

Genre: It's Schneider...
Website: www.bobschneidermusic.com
Release Date: 2003
Label: Shockorama

Ok People. This is Schneider we're talking about here. With the Dec. 7th show coming round the corner some friends have requested some Schneider up in this b*tch. Without further ado I present you with one of his more experimental albums. I would have reviewed a more conventional album but I don't have most of my music at the current moment (it's all on loan to a personal friend).

In any event Schneider is gonna be playing in Indianapolis at the Music Mill pretty soon here. I know a lot of people are excited so please, have a listen and get yourself properly prepped. It's a solo show so don't expect all the frill and lace that comes with the usual accompaniment of his band. If/When I get around to it, I'll be sure to share some of his solo stuff because then those of you who haven't heard that vein of Schneider will be able to get in tune for the show.

Enjoy and Listen...

Angus and Julia Stone - A Book Like This

Tracklist:

01. The Beast
02. Here We Go Again
03. Wasted
04. Just A Boy
05. Bella
06. Hollywood
07. A Book Like This
08. Silver Coin
09. Stranger
10. Soldier
11. Jewels And Gold
12. Another Day
13. Horse And Cart

Genre: Acoustic/Folk
Website: www.angusandjuliastone.com
Release Date: 2007-09-08
Label: Capitol

Keeping it real and keeping it in the family are Angus and Julia Stone. A brother-sister duo from Sydney, Australia, they originally stuck it out as solo artists at bars, finally collaborating in early 2006. Each still brings his/her own songs to the table, after which they coordinate on structure and harmonies.

I had previously stumbled across their two previous EP's and went through an ensuing love-hate relationship with them. I love one voice (Angus) and hate the other (Julia). Not that she has a bad voice, it's just not my cup of tea. It's too fractured and frail for my liking. Angus might occasionally sound like a girl but as one critic put it, Angus has a "smoke-on-the-beach" drawl. I love smoke on the beach.

But this album is solid. A few downs to more-than-a-few ups. Of course, my beef is with the songs showcasing Julia's voice. They sing about interesting stuff... I can't always piece together the meaning of each line of every song but it's been fun trying to decode them.

Tracks 4 and 11. Those are my favorite. Track 3 is also great (oh, and 5), but you know how I feel about both song 3 and two songs from the beginning of the album.

Enjoy.

Aaron Ross - Butterfly Man

Tracklist:

01. As The Sun Goes Down
02. Standing On The Bridge
03. Butterfly Man
04. Take These Chains
05. Lay Low
06. Delivered
07. Tired Of Waiting
08. Come And Get It
09. New Place
10. When The Night
11. Savannakhet Breakdown
12. Only Life
13. Mandarin Oranges
14. Daylight

Genre: Folk-rock
Website: www.myspace.com/aaronchrisross
Release Date: Advance
Label: Lit Fuse

Doing some light reading on this singer-songwriter's myspace page shows off just how human Aaron Ross is. Growing up in a rootsy old-fashioned kinda way and writing songs for all the right reasons (women) he finally ended up in the Distrito Federal in Mexico. Word has it he puts on a mean show but I'm guessing he isn't coming round these parts.

This album is not only a diamond in the roughness that I've been finding lately (too much emo) but it would actually be good anyways. Take folked up acoustic guitar and spin it in as many ways as po