The Swell Season - Strict Joy

ARTIST: The Swell Season
ALBUM: Strict Joy
GENRE: Folk/Rock
YEAR: 2009

The Swell Season consists of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. You may remember these two from the 2007 movie "Once", or perhaps you heard mention of their names at the 2006 Academy Awards for their song "Falling Slowly". The duo is back together with a new album "Strict Joy" which covers a wide variety of emotions and styles.

Glen Hansard's vocals coupled with Marketa Irglova's create somewhat of an angelic duet. Though Glen may have a raspy voice, he somehow always manages to hit high notes and evoke so much emotion. Each song displays the fine song writing skills of both Glen and Marketa. The chords of each song are all beautifully chosen and create a cadence of wonder. Throw that in with various instruments, from violin, to piano, to some strange "drone" like instrument and you have The Swell Season. Each track on this album is better than the last and if there's one album you listen to from this blog this month, make it this one.

Track Listing
01: Low Rising
02: Feeling the Pull
03: In These Arms
04: The Rain
05: Fantasy Man
06: Paper Cup
07: High Horses
08: The Verb
09: I Have Loved You Wrong
10: Love That Conquers
11: Two Tongues
12: Back Broke

Low Rising by The Swell Season

Download
MySpace

Suffocate for Fuck Sake - Blazing Fires and Helicopters on the Frontpage . . .

ARTIST: Suffocate for Fuck Sake
ALBUM: Blazing Fires and Helicopters on the Frontpage of the Newspaper! There's a war going on and I'm marching in heavy boots.
GENRE: Sludge/Post-Hardcore/Ambient
YEAR: 2006

Suffocate for Fuck Sake is a sludge/post-hardcore band from Sweden. The band takes from many different genres of music to create this album which tells the story of a young girl and her trip through a mental institution. With a style similar to bands such as Mogwai, Cult of Luna, and Godspeed You Black Emperor, Suffocate for Fuck Sake creates a landscape which transports you from reality to the harsh realization that is war and poverty. Heavily distorted bass lines rip through the streets while the guitars create an alarming ambient sound as if something looms overhead. The effects used on the instruments help to create one unique listening experience, and the raw vocals express anger and misunderstanding. A mood of depression, yet also hope is set in this album. Kick on the tunes, sit back, and let the instruments carry your imagination off to distant lands of destruction and imprisonment.

Track Listing
01: 『Blue lights and sunshine』
02: 『I got worried... I was so freaking scared of that window, you know?』
03: 『We are driving through darkness』
04: 『Twentysix and full of plans』
05: 『A Japanese flag』
06: 『I keep my eyes on the ground, afraid of meeting someone I know』
07: 『Empty』
08: 『They try to cheer me up by saying I did once live a functioning life』

I got worried... I was so freaking scared of that window, you know?

Download
MySpace

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down

A band from VA! particularly the Richmond/ Williamsburg area If i read it right?

The Walkmen - You & Me

ARTIST: The Walkmen
ALBUM: You & Me
GENRE: Indie/Rock
YEAR: 2008

The Walkmen began in 2000 and have stayed strong for near a decade. Their debut album "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone", released in 2002, was well received by critics. Now, with their 2008 release, "You & Me", we can sense a distinct direction and sound in their musical style. Each song on the album paints a picture of taking a walk down memory lane. With slow waltz like numbers with trippy guitars, minimal drums, and steady bass lines, The Walkmen emphasize their lyrics of loneliness and despair. In combination with guitar and bass, they also mix in keyboard, which makes songs such as "In The New Year".

The Walkmen seem to pay homage to the early rock-n-roll bands of the 50's. They sound similar to a band that would be found in a Tarantino film, which is never a bad thing. "You & Me" makes for good relaxation music; music to reminisce to. If you're into slow indie music, make sure you give this album a listen.

Track Listing
01: 『Donde Esta La Playa』
02: 『Flamingos』
03: 『On The Water』
04: 『In The New Year』
05: 『Seven Years of Holidays』
06: 『Postcards from Tiny Islands』
07: 『Red Moon』
08: 『Canadian Girl』
09: 『Four Provinces』
10: 『Long Time Ahead of Us』
11: 『The Blue Route』
12: 『New Country』
13: 『I Lost You』
14: 『If Only It Were True』

In The New Year

Download*
MySpace
*Files are M4A format

(Hige Driver) - 1UP!

ARTIST: ヒゲドライバー (Hige Driver)
ALBUM: 1UP!
GENRE: 8bit/Rock/Pop
YEAR: 2008

Ah, the days of the Nintendo. Remember sitting there, controller in hand, palms sweaty, waiting for the right moment to bounce on Bowser for stealing your woman? Do you remember being pissed off because the Princess was apparently in some other castle? Yeah, of course. We all do.

Hailing from Japan, Hige Driver borrows the nostalgia inducing 8 bit sounds of yesteryear and creates a very unique style. From the intense break-beat and definitive melody used in ALARM, to the catchy 8 bit emulated pop-rock song Kiss @ Me, you'll be sure to want more from him. Using the ever so loved 8 bit sounds from old gaming consoles, he mixes together sampled drums, low-compression vocals, and cheesy, yet catchy synth guitar melodies.

Track Listing
01:『ALARM』
02:『Sono Sabi』
03:『Kiss me』
04:『Reset me』
05:『ルックルック応答せよ』
06:『つっくつくねしてあげる』
07:『甘酸っぱい!!』
08:『４８１９』
09:『チェリー』
10:『Hello Computer』


Download
Myspace

Creative Process...

Alright, welcome guy or guys, to the rainy day brigade. My intentions with this blog are to post music and album reviews for all genres and styles of music. I'm hoping to update at least once a week with one or two albums. If you're interested in posting on the blog, give me a holler at my email or on AIM; leviwins.