Rodeo Ruby Love

There's nothing like the feeling of Autumn to me, so to celebrate my favorite time of the year (and the fact that I have internet access again) I am going to be updating the old blog again on a regular basis. A lot of the inspiration for this come from a very special friend of mine, so I hope that she finds something new here to listen to in the coming months. so to inaugurate this most auspicious occasion, here's something that's been in heavy rotation on my Zune lately.

The band is Rodeo Ruby Love and the sound will make you want to jump around the room and dance. The multi-member group trades off boy/girl vocal that contain some of the sweetest harmonies and sentiments I've heard in a while. I am sure you will love this band as much as I do after giving them a listen. Check out their myspace for some more song samples.

Go become their friend here. And buy their music here.

MP3: Rodeo Ruby Love - The Atlantic

BONUS MP3: Rodeo Ruby Love - A Small House in the City

BONUS VIDEO: Here's a Live Perfomance of A Small House in the City

Voxtrot

Got some wonderful news in my email yesterday, Voxtrot have launched the site to their upcoming documentary, Reaching for the Lasers. The site can be found here at http://www.reaching4lasers.com/. I think each of you should visit it and check out some of the behinds the scenes going ons for their new album, Voxtrot, which drops in just a few short weeks. Of course I am sure that most of you have heard at least a few songs off the album by now (if not the entirety of it). One of my friends told me a few weeks ago that he didn't think the album sounded as good as the EP's. At first I sort of agreed with him, but the more I thought about it, the less I thought I did. Voxtrot released two of the most amazing EP's since the Smiths stopped dropping singles, but this album is right up there with Raised by Wolves and Mothers.... I mean maybe it takes a few more listens to really sink your teeth into, but this is definitely not a case of any sort or pre-sophomore slump by any means. The album is going to become one of your favorites this year. I have little doubt in saying that. Its end of year Top 10 for sure, and if its not, there better be some fucking amazing shit dropping this summer and fall (looking at you Wolf Parade...).

Here's an mp3 for you off the album.

MP3: Voxtrot - Kid Gloves

Be sure to check out Reaching for the Lasers as a new episode will be dropping every Wednesday.

As always check out their Homepage, and their Myspace where they could always use some more friends.... You can also get a few more previews from Voxtrot there as well.

The Old Soul

Hmmm, if there seems to be anything today that will get me excited about a band before hearing even that first chord its gotta be large multi-instrument groups. I can't honestly think of one group with 6+ members or more that I think sucks. Hailing out out of the land of what seems like the mecca of multi-member bands is The Old Soul. If that doesn't clue you in that these boys (and girl) are from Canada you've not been paying attention the past decade or so to indie-rock. I can remember when the only thing I knew about Toronto's music scene was Barenaked Ladies. Now it seems like half the bands I put on my top 10 lists come from that city. Speaking of top 10 lists, this band is gonna be on a ton of blogger top 10's come December. And if it ain't, well, then I guess those blogs just aren't worth reading.

Their Myspace.
Their webpage.

The obligatory track to whet your appetite for a full album:

MP3: The Old Soul - River of Daughters


Here's the video for River of Daughters. This song might just be better than the one I posted above, :-P

BONUS VIDEO:

http://www.theoldsoul.com/media/video/theoldsoul/riverofdaughters_320.php

We All Have Hooks for Hands

It has been quite a while since I last updated this blog. Yeah, yeah I know I promised to update more often after the last sabbatical, but I got sidetracked. For a while. A looooooooong while. Anyways, the band that I think you have to check out the most during the downtime I've had has to be We All Have Hooks for Hands. I'm going to dive into real blogger territory here and hype this band like the other bloggers would. This shit is the second coming. Forget Voxtrot, forget the Arcade Fire. Forget that Wolf Parade has an album on the way this year. Forget that CYHSY dropped another nugget of joy this year. The one you need to get. the only album you need to hear this year is The Pretender by the aforementioned We All Have Hooks for Hands. Hopefully I'll get some emails about my hyperbole on this one :-D. But I swear, there's not been one release this year that I have listened to as much as this one (and its only April, bear in mind). I've complained in the past about bloggers who've compared bands to Neutral Milk Hotel. To me NMH is the holy grail. It doesn't get much better than them. Pure and simple. But honestly. I really feel this band is the 21st century equivalent. No, they don't sound like Jeff Mangum and friends, but they give you that same feeling you get while listening to Neutral Milk Hotel. Take the members of Broken Social Scene, add in a more acoustic-based sound with hand claps and multiple singers and you get We All Have Hooks for Hands. Yeah yeah, I know its dumb to throw BSS into the whole what-do-they-sound-like shizz, but I could definitely see BSS having taken this direction as much as the one they did.

Hailing from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, this band's debut album (while only a scant 26 minutes long) has brought to the table of indie-rock a sound that you are not likely to find anywhere else. But I promise you these twelve songs will sound familiar yet new all at one. This band's sound is poppy and upbeat, sloppy and perfectly crafted all at once, sort of like if We're From Barcelona listened to nothing but Guided By Voices all day then got really stoned with the Flaming Lips and made an album. Yes, it sounds nothing like any of those bands. But the picture it conjures, and the hard work that obviously went into making this album are what I am trying to get across to you.

Their Myspace.

Afternoon Records.

MP3: We All Have Hooks For Hands - Ghost and Strangers

MP3: We All Have Hooks For Hands - Elvis 'Mf' Christ

Sister Vanilla

There are few bands in this world that I can say I love as much as the Jesus and Mary Chain. I mean, we're talking like you can name them on one hand sort of list here. Maybe even half a hand. So last month when I first heard the debut Sister Vanilla album, Little Pop Rock, well, it was like reuniting with an old friend again. A friend you've sorely missed. This album is both the second coming of the Mary Chains as well as the birth of something completely new. While some may see the addition of Linda Reid as only a substitute for an absent Hope Sandoval, I recognize her more as the inspiring light that's brought three of my favorite musicians back together for another go at fame and fortune in the music world. The Famille Reid is joined by one other longstanding Mary Chains member, Ben Lurie. Mr. Lurie of course ably provides bass for Sister Vanilla much as he did for his former outfit. This album has become my favorite of the new year already, though it won't be released until early April. Did I mention its on Chemikal Underground?!?! How cool is that? If I gotta go on about why that's cool you should find another blog to read. So yeah, Sister Vanilla is the 21st century version of the Jesus and Mary Chain and its some of the best work to come from William and Jim Reid to date. Linda's voice adds a whole new dimension to the classic sound in much the same way that Ms. Sandoval did with her guest vocals on "Sometimes Always", from the latter period JAMC opus, Stoned and Dethroned. This album is not one to be missed so be sure to head over to Chemikal Underground and pre-order yourself a copy or three. Your friends will thank you for the kind gift.

Their myspace, they could use your Friendship, so join them!

MP3: Sister Vanilla - Can't Stop the Rock

BONUS MP3: Sister Vanilla - Jamcolas

Los Campesinos!

So its been several months since I last blogged about any new music. There's a laundry list of reasons why so I'll not bore anyone with the details. Anyways... I've got a ton of new music to post, so without any further jibba-jabba, here's today's band, one you all should have heard of by now, Los Campesinos!

The Campesinos have a new single coming out and this one might just be better than "You! Me! Dancing!". It's just as catchy, just as dancey and about twice as infectious. The song's called "We Throw Parties, you Throw Knives" and if this song is any indication of what their debut album will be like then its gonna be at the top of the Best of '07 lists for sure. I've also included the video for the song in format compatible both for iPod (ughh) and of course for my favorite player, the Zune. Download it too cuz its a really cool video with little dancing soldiers.

As always join the band on myspace and check out some of the songs available there.

MP3: Los Campesinos! - "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives"

BONUS VIDEO:

ZUNE VIDEO: Los Campesinos! - "We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives"

Stars Live, Lollapalooza 2006

I've neglected the site for long enough the past couple of weeks, I won't go into why, cuz its waaayy geeky what was taking up nearly every free moment I had. All I'll say is States, if you know it you know it, nuff said. Anyways, I was perusing some of the usual places I find new music last week and came across a live album from Stars that was recorded at this year's Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago. I headed over to the Lolla website where they have a ton of live stuff from this year's fest. Iron and Wine, Broken Social Scene, hell even Sleater Kinney, these and more can be found for download from the Live Lollapalooza Website. Songs are .99 each or between 5 and 10 bucks for the whole shebang. The Stars album has quickly grown to be one of my faves so far. I wish more of the summer festivals would start doing this as we all are not independently wealthy with trust funds to enable us to jestset from Festival to Festival every year. I gotta say the sound is exceptional for these recordings and any fans should definitely look into buying their fave artists' sets. Here's a sample of the Stars set:

MP3: Stars - Calendar Girl

What's so great about the sets that Live Lolla is offering is that they have both lossless (FLAC!) and lossy mp3s for your downloading pleasure. I'd highly recommend buying the FLAC files and taking the extra download time as they sound sooo much better than the mp3s. If you've not bought Stars latest, Set Yourself On Fire, then I highly suggest heading over to here and picking one up. I hear it makes a great X-Mas gift too if you already own it....

Stars on Myspace.
The Stars website.