Faraquet - The View From This Tower

Faraquet were an indie band that had some math rock tendencies. Active in the late '90s to the early 2000's, they were signed to Dischord records in Washington D.C. (Fugazi, Minor Threat etc.). Full of abrupt starts and stops and clever songwriting, Faraquet gives us an album that is clever and unique but still holds on to some pop sensibility.

Faraquet - "The View From This Tower" 2000
















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?2xnpym1wcyc

-Peter

Stars of the Lid - Avec Laudenum

"Avec Laudenum is an album that demands both patience and time. The first three tracks on the album all belong to the “Atomium” series which clocks in just over twenty minutes long. Mostly composed of soothing, orchestrated electronic effects and dark, shadowed guitar drones Stars of the Lid are able to create a mesmerizing atmosphere that has the ability to enthrall the listener. Ethereal keyboard tones fade in and out as dreary guitars drone in the background.'

Stars of the Lid - "Avec Laudenum" 1999

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?qztmynmmkkw

-Peter

Don Caballero - What Burns Never Returns

Man i don't know how I went this long without posting any don crabs. This here is where you should start, those of you who havent yet had a formal introduction to the band. Properly rocking, moreso than American Don (the followup), but bears a strange beauty that Don Caballero 2 (it's predecessor) lacked. The reason this album really stands out in my book, is because it was the last album that co-founding member and guitarist Mike Banfield played on, and the guitar dynamics between Ian Williams, and Mike on these 8 flawless tracks are really just something special.

Don Caballero - "What Burns Never
Returns" 1998

Download:http://www.rapidshare.com/files/222917888/What_Burns_Never_Returns_-_1998.rar
-Peter

Fugazi - End Hits

Fugazi's 2nd to last album, and the most experimental effort they put out. Though when i say experimental that doesn't mean they're trading melody and structure for effects and noise, the album is full of melody. If you didn't dig the Fugazi albums I posted earlier, don't give up just yet. This album might change your mind.

Fugazi - "End Hits" 1998

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?0rjyxvxlmat

-Peter

Owls - Self Titled

Owls is one of those bands that is difficult to pin a genre tag on. They were somewhat of a reincarnation of Cap'n Jazz, with all of the members on their original instruments, but to say that it was a reunion would be far off. The sound of Owls is comparable to none, Vic V's guitar lines float and sift through the crisp/thumpy rhythms of Sam Zurick on the bass, and Mike Kinsella (Owen, American Football) on the drums. All while Tim Kinsella wales his thought-full banter and tasty melodies. Die hard Kinsella fans such as myself consider this single album to be the best of their entire catalogue, and even those who dislike most of the collectives work, can't deny this album is a masterpiece.

Owls - "Owls" 2001

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?u2gaykyc2nz

-Peter

Saetia - A Retrospective

Saetia was an extremely influential post hardcore/screamo band active in the 1990's. Pushing what bands like Cap'n Jazz started in the early 90's, they basically pioneered this sound of angular/dissonant guitars, and shrill screaming. Many acts would follow, trying to replicate Saetia's sound which critics were beginning to call 'screamo'. How it started here and evolved into acts like My Chemical Romance, and Atreyu is totally beyond me. This album is a retrospective (rightly named) of their entire catalogue. I'm pretty sure this is every recording of theirs, from 1997-2000.

Saetia - "A Retrospective" 2001


















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?whg2jdd2mjd

-Peter

Yesterdays New Quintet - Sound Directions: The Funky Side of Life

Madlib is one of the most prolific producers of our day. With an inhuman amount of releases under his belt, under the many different aliases he uses, which somehow each manage to have a sound of it's own. Here we have Yesterdays New Quintet, which for a long time i thought was madeup of Madlib on beats, and other musicians on the actual instruments. But i came to find out that these other musicians (Otis Jackson Jr, Joe Johnson etc.), were actually fictional musicians that Madlib had thought up for this project. And what's even more insane is that he came out with Solo albums for all of the fictional musicians! So this record is entirely madlib, even though it sounds like a real live jazz quartet. It is very funky and danceable yet smart and hip.

Yesterdays New Quintet - Sound Directions: "The Funky Side of Life" 2005



















Download:http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OJ7IELQG

-Peter

Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted + Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

These are indie rock legends - Pavement, and their groundbreaking first two releases. Pavement set the bar for lo-fi indie rock bands in the 1990's with these D.I.Y. masterpieces. I don't wanna say much more for these guys because the music really speaks for itself.

Pavement - "Slanted & Enchanted" 1992

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?edrsdgl0m99
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Pavement - "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain" 1994

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?uwzg2vdmuzy

-Peter

Stereolab - Emperor Tomato Ketchup

"Stereolab was poised for a breakthrough release with Emperor Tomato Ketchup, their fourth full-length release, the album is Stereolab's most complex, multi-layered record. Even when Stereolab appears to be creating a one-chord trance, there is a lot going on beneath the surface. Furthermore, the group's love for easy listening and pop melodies means that the music never feels cold or inaccessible. Because of all its textures, Emperor Tomato Ketchup isn't as immediately accessible as Mars Audiac Quintet, but it is a rich, rewarding listen. "

Stereolab - "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" 1996

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?dhmqwv1oyom

-Peter

The Appleseed Cast-Sagarmatha

It's the first post of the year and decade Woohoo.  

Here is a fairly solid Appleseed Cast release.  Lots of airy and spacey guitars and filtered vocals. 

http://www.mediafire.com/?d5yk2dzoglq

Zak

Telefon Tel Aviv-Fahrenheit Fair Enough

This is one of my favorite electronic albums of all time.  Highly recommended.  Along the lines of edIT/Tycho/The Album Leaf.

http://www.mediafire.com/?mmvqj5mjoxo

Zak

Also

Merry Christmas Friends!  It's almost over but Peter and I wanted to wish you happy holidays and all that jazz.  Personally, this blog helps me out a lot and sharing music with people is something I love to do.  We also enjoy feedback, so leave us a comment or an email, tanks!

-Zak

Animal Collective-Feels

If you have been paying attention at all to the blogosphere and altmusic review sites you are fully aware it was the year of Animal Collective and Merriweather Post Pavilion.  For me personally it took me awhile to catch on to the craze/hype/whatever you wanna call it.  One of their albums that I really think is overlooked is Feels.  I bought Feels when it came out by random cuz i was record shopping and the album cover really caught my eye.  I was maybe a sophomore in high school when I bought it and it both confused me/blew me away because I had never really heard anything like it before.  This is my personal favorite AnCo album.

Animal Collective-Feels

http://www.mediafire.com/?glrnm2zkomy

-Zak

Girlfriends-Girlfriends

I reminisce the first moments of my personal revelation after seeing Girlfriends for the first time at a house show and saying to myself, "Holy shit, where did this come from?!".  I've seen Girlfriends play a handful of times and each time has been as memorable as the rest.  For example, I specifically remember Girlfriends playing a show at a barn party and at the party were some super stoked Juggalos super pumped off of Girlfriends tunes getting increasingly more excited/drunk/violent and slowly moving there way up close to the point where I thought they were going to tackle him in an appreciative Juggalo fashion.  Lulz.

The man behind Girlfriends, Jerry Joiner, is quite the guy. Extremely nice and polite, highly intelligent, and usually has a grin on his face.  A gentle guy that usually has something funny/amusing to say who's adored by all.  So when I first heard his music I was so surprised because it was such a kick in the ass.  In a fantastic kick in the ass sort of way and I'm not the only one who thinks so.  He's been ranked on the hype machine and has been featured in a few noteworthy blogs.

http://hypem.com/artist/girlfriends

http://www.deliciouscopitone.com/2009/12/girlfriend/

He has recently come out with a self titled release.

Here is a link to downlaod.

http://girlfriends.bandcamp.com/album/girlfriends

I highly recommend downloading this album.  I am expecting great things from Girlfriends and I will not be surprised when his music will blow up.

-Zak

Joan of Arc - A Portable Model Of.. + Live in Chicago 1999

This is Joan of Arc's first full length, it's kind of hard to describe this album. It's definately evident in the music that this was an early Joan of Arc album, but that isn't a bad thing. It's like it's still holding on just a bit to the Cap'n Jazz punk rock vibe, but has a foot in the later Joan of Arc sound, which is calmer but edgier in the experintal sense. A good album to introduce you to the band.

Joan of Arc - "A Portable Model Of" 1997




















Download:http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6Z4ZOC5I
-Peter

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This is not actually a live album, just a reference to the fact that all of the members were living in Chicago in 1999. This album sees Joan of Arc going for a mellowed out acoustic, groove based sound. It has it's rocking moments, and it has it's out their moments, but most consider it the best of Joan of Arc. Another good record to intrdocue you to the band.

Joan of Arc - "Live in Chicago 1999"

Download:http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5CRIHZ9Y

-Peter

Tim Kinsella - Crucifix Swastika

Tim Kinsella's (Cap'n Jazz, Owls, Joan of Arc, Make Believe, Sky Corvair) second solo effort, which was written on his honeymoon in 2005. Just some thoughtful, tasty acoustic guitar and voice by Tim.

Tim Kinsella - "Crucifix Swastika" 2005















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?oyjzmnzh0zm
-Peter

Stars of the Lid - The Tired Sounds of

This album is wow. The most captivating ambient album i have ever heard. This makes top ten of all time for me. "The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid finds these guys fully harnessing the power of the studio, with striking results. Strings and horns are all over this record, and the richer palate gives the drones added weight and depth...the listener is meant to focus attention on the subtle build and decay inside these layered drones. Slight breaks in harmony between a violin and a shard of guitar feedback carry serious emotional weight. The half-second decay of a breathless French horn resonates like a perfect chord change. Silence becomes another instrument."


Stars of the Lid - "The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (discs 1&2)" 2001

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?nezzjlgam3j
-Peter

Squarepusher - Music is Rotted One Note

"The one-man drum'n'bass outfit Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson) treads upon more unpredictable terrain on Music Is Rotted One Note. Although the album still contains elements of his usual drum'n'bass sound, this is by and large a jazz/fusion affair."

Squarepusher - "Music is Rotted One Note" 1998

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?1dod1yewefi

-Peter

Unwound - Repitition

Great post hardcore/noise rock band from Olympia Washington. "Repetition is without question the most sleek and mood-encompassing album Unwound has released throughout the breadth of their career. Much of the familiar style they established on New Plastic Ideas is here, boiled down into an even more dark and thundering form, with some of the edges sanded down into beautiful, smooth layers. Ideas focus into sharp points, at one moment falling into swelling rolls of condensed sound and the next climaxing with Justin Trosper's affecting shriek and relentless feedback."
For fans of Drive Like Jehu, Shellac, Polvo

Unwound - "Repition" 1996


















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?ojmdhnwgz5z

Peter

Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One

I have Zak to thank for getting me into these guys. I think he posted one of his favorite albums a while back, here is my personal favorite. Released in 1997, the style of music on this album is an eclectic blend of folk, rock, shoegazing, electronic, and what can be widely termed as experimental.


Yo La Tengo - I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One 1997

















Download:http://www.mediafire.com/?mjyzgjdmgjm

-Peter