TRAGEDY

I was first introduced to Tragedy by my good friend Paul. He had burned me a copy of their first album and simply said "You will like these guys." I was aware of Tragedy because I was a fan of His Hero Is Gone who members of Tragedy had played in previously. Like His Hero Is Gone, Tragedy is hardcore punk done right. Most bands in that genre seem to bore me these days but Tragedy is something really special. They are fiercely DIY and put out their own albums. If you like these records please go out and buy them.


TRAGEDY - "Tragedy" (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?43gd1bmv0zs


TRAGEDY - "Vengeance" (2002)
http://www.mediafire.com/?d1nzopwqlyr


TRAGEDY - "Nerve Damage" (2006)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2cmpyoempgg

THE WIND-UP BIRD

The Wind-Up Bird exist somewhere between Dirty Three and Godspeed You Black Emperor. They create beautiful and sparse compositions that overtake you. Both records are highly recommended.


THE WIND-UP BIRD - "The Wind-Up Bird"
http://www.mediafire.com/?5t4ompwjitx


THE WIND-UP BIRD - "Whips"
http://www.mediafire.com/?fots3e2tdwc

SECRET MOMMY - "KOOL AID RIVER" VIDEO

This is by far one of the coolest music videos I've seen. Secret Mommy is the new music project from The Red Light Sting's Andy Dixon. He also is the one that created the video.

THE RED LIGHT STING

Another underrated gem! The Red Light Sting's sound could be compared to a less aggressive and more dance oriented Blood Brothers. I was lucky enough to see them play live in LA with Death From Above, Blood Brothers, and Pretty Girls Make Graves. It was an amazing show and The Red Light Sting were by far the stand out for me. After the release of their full length "Hands Up, Tiger" they unfortunately called it a day.


THE RED LIGHT STING - "Rub Em Down"
http://www.mediafire.com/?cjcgb0i4ofb


THE RED LIGHT STING - "Our Love Is Soaking In It"
http://www.mediafire.com/?d9sxj52veyj


THE RED LIGHT STING - "Split CD With Hot Hot Heat"
http://www.mediafire.com/?2hvf14hmrdv


THE RED LIGHT STING - "Hands Up, Tiger"
http://www.mediafire.com/?8a2xwezevhn

PROSAICS

Prosaics was a band that should have been huge. Unfortunately like so many bands their life span stopped it from happening. Only releasing one brilliant EP on Dim Mak records, the band signed to Matador Records after and celebrated by breaking up. The band featured the drummer from Rainer Maria but had more in common with Interpol, Wire, and Joy Division.


PROSAICS - "Aghast Agape" (2004)
http://www.mediafire.com/?coyuj0zlnny

BLACK EYES

Black Eyes was a band from Washington, D.C. on Dischord Records. The first time I saw them live was in a anarchist run store front in Los Angeles. I had only been in LA for a month but was already a huge fan after hearing their first 7" and LP. So I decided to brave the show alone and was grateful I did. The storefront was the size of a living room. People were packed in tight dancing and having a blast along to their unique brand of art dance punk. It stands out as one of my favorite shows. After their first LP they went on to release the LP "Cough" which saw the band leaning more towards their art/noise tendencies. It took me awhile to warm up to this record but it eventually grew on me. Below is the first 7" and LP. If you like what you hear I suggest buying "Cough" through Dischord.


BLACK EYES - "Black Eyes" (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?f39du3bjtgm


BLACK EYES - "Some Boys b/w Shut Up I Never (7 Inch)" (2002)
http://www.mediafire.com/?aymjll7m99r

NIRVANA - ENDLESS, NAMELESS

Anyone who knows me can tell you Nirvana is by far my favorite band. In 1991, at age 11, they changed my life. Without their influence I wouldn't be who I am or where I am.
Below is a live clip of my favorite Nirvana song, Endless Nameless. Enjoy.

EXCELSIOR

Featuring a member of Encyclopedia of American Traitors, Excelsior was a unique gem compared to their peers in Pennsylvania. I was lucky enough to see them a few times but I won't lie, I hated them the first few times I saw them. There was something about them I couldn't shake though. After picking up their "Can I Get Some Satisfaction Up In This Piece" album I started to get the picture. Think dirty southern rock, motorcycles, and dirty bars all filtered through the sensabilities of a late 90s hardcore kid and you will start to get the picture too. Give it a try.


EXCELSIOR - "Can I Get Some Satisfaction Up In This Piece"
http://www.mediafire.com/?fqevfdy3ntr


EXCELSIOR - "Excelsior"
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UAQ0QSL2

NORTH OF AMERICA

Hailing from Nova Scotia, North Of America made music closer in sound to bands from the DC scene like Q And Not U & Fugazi. Their stunning third album "Brothers, Sisters" was an amazing mixture of indie rock and smart pop. I first heard a few songs online when I first moved to LA about 4 years ago. I was so hooked I ventured around Hollywood looking for a record store that had it. I finally found a copy at Amoeba and went on to listen to it more times then I could count. The photo above was taken by Yolamda.


NORTH OF AMERICA - "Brothers, Sisters"
http://www.mediafire.com/?6zmt53wv19j


NORTH OF AMERICA - "This Is Dance Floor Numerology"
http://www.mediafire.com/?4mc39mczmjg

LA LOVE = MIKA MIKO + NO AGE

So I thought I would switch gears a bit and do a post with 2 bands who are actually new and active. Both Mika Miko and New Age are from the town I call home now: Los Angeles. If you get the chance to see either live you will be blown away. Both bands have made me excited about seeing live music again. Think art punk rock inspired by the North-West scene of the mid nineties and you will be somewhere close to both bands sounds. Be sure to check out their Myspace pages : Mika Miko + No Age. Also if you like them please buy their music and go see them live!


MIKA MIKIO - "666"
http://www.mediafire.com/?3hvr5coex9n


NO AGE - "Weirdo Rippers"
http://www.mediafire.com/?0hj0my1bxmy

THE PARTY OF HELICOPTERS

Since I posted a demo compilation from The Party Of Helicopters a few posts back, I wanted to post the rest of the bands albums. I was lucky enough to see The Party Of Helicopters live at a music fest in West Virginia a few years back. Although I got to see a bunch of great bands that weekend (Fugazi, Q and Not U, Engine Down, etc) The Party Of Helicopters was by far the standout. While looking for info on the band I found a really good quote describing their music : "If Ozzy had drunk thousands of pots of coffee all those years instead of thousands of handles of vodka, he might have created rock like this." I couldn't have said it better.


THE PARTY OF HELICOPTERS - "Abracadaver"
http://www.mediafire.com/?c13wxpa3y2y


THE PARTY OF HELICOPTERS - "Mt. Forever"
http://www.mediafire.com/?arqmtbto1m3


THE PARTY OF HELICOPTERS - "Space and How Sweet It Is"
http://www.mediafire.com/?14yeblny3yt


THE PARTY OF HELICOPTERS - "Please Believe It"
http://www.mediafire.com/?3d3jj3vbmrr

SONG OF ZARATHUSTRA

Most bands that I post on this blog I will scream and moan how they were so underappreciated... and I'm going to do it again for Song Of Zarathustra. They deserve it more than most. Hailing from Oakland, Song Of Zarathustra fit perfectly in with the California tradition of bands like Angel Hair, Heroin, and even the Locust. They are as abrasive as those bands at times but Song Of Zarathustra's songs are actually catchy and infectious; something their predecessors sometimes avoided at all costs. The photo above was taken by Yolamda. As always, please comment if you like this post.


SONG OF ZARATHUSTRA - "A View From High Tides" (2002)
http://www.mediafire.com/?e4ovnyacfgx


SONG OF ZARATHUSTRA - "The Birth of Tragedy" (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?fjj5hlmeh2y

FOUR HUNDRED YEARS

I don't think I need to say much about Four Hundred Years. I'm sure most of you are acquainted with them. I was lucky enough to catch their last show they ever played. A group of friends from the art school I was attending at the time took the 3 hour drive to downtown Philly to say farewell. It was a show I will never forget. It felt like the end of an era. Members went on to form Bats & Mice who were amazing in their own right. The photo above was taken by my good friend Bryan Sheffield.


FOUR HUNDRED YEARS - "Transmit Failure" (1998)
http://www.mediafire.com/?3fmtgm39x0e


FOUR HUNDRED YEARS - "Suture And Other Songs" (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?1xgzwwxb22y


FOUR HUNDRED YEARS - "The New Imperialism" (1999)
http://www.mediafire.com/?0znxjxmwn9n

THIS MACHINE KILLS

This Machine Kills was a band that featured the infamous Steve Aoki on vocals. Before you write them off download "Death In The Audobon Ballroom." Although it might not be as strong musically as some of their peers (Jr. Ewing, Bread and Circuits, Yaphet Kotto), they had a passion that is hard to match.
Please comment so I know if people are actually reading this blog. Thanks!


THIS MACHINE KILLS - "Death In The Audobon Ballroom"
http://www.mediafire.com/?8mnjz3x9pim


THIS MACHINE KILLS - "Split Ep with Jr Ewng"
http://www.mediafire.com/?fggt0wedyzm


THIS MACHINE KILLS - "A Collaboration of Songs" (Tour CD with Yaphet Kotto and Envy)
http://www.mediafire.com/?6jc7zvcamrb

MAJORITY RULE

Majority Rule were a dark hardcore band from Washington, DC. They were fiercely DIY and politically outspoken. Their sound fits in perfectly with bands such as Envy, Crestfallen, and Circle Takes The Square (all which I will be posting soon). I first saw them perform at Hellfest in 2003 and was hooked. Their use of dual-vocal attacks and goosebump-inducing dynamics will leave you hooked too.


MAJORITY RULE - "Interviews With David Frost" (2001)
http://www.mediafire.com/?dd9gb9w2xyr


MAJORITY RULE - "Emergency Numbers" (2003)
http://www.mediafire.com/?bdq1z0wmj2x


MAJORITY RULE - "Split With Pg99" (2002)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2zme1xzesl2

THE RED SCARE

The Red Scare was a band that existed for a few years during the early part of this century. They hailed from Knoxville but their sound shared more in common with bands coming out of San Diego like Heroin and other Gravity Records alumni. Another close contemporary was Four Hundred Years (who I will be posting soon). Their always stunning artwork was designed by Brian Roettinger who also ran the label Hand Held Heart.


THE RED SCARE - "Capillary Lockdown" (2000)
http://www.mediafire.com/?dlv9vdxwmyi


THE RED SCARE - "Strangers Die Everyday" (2001)
http://www.mediafire.com/?2luzgyeyxjt