1. Prizzy Prizzy Please - Too Many T-Shirts
Well, how else could I start this one but with something wierd, unusual and trippily happy? The singer here has "too many t-shirts over (his) head", and clearly it's turing his band into geniuses. This song has no guitar apparently, so that wierd guitarish noise? Beats me! What it does have is gang vocals, hand claps, wierd high pitched noises and shouting. It's fun and I love it.
2. Tubelord - Half Man, Half Amazing
And guess what, I love this too! I recently saw this band along with 3 others (one of which is on this CD a little later), in what I would call the most eventful gig I've been at in quite a while. Not only did this band run off stage while playing, to serenade a girl sitting at the side not really paying attention but the other bands lost trousers and had birthdays while on stage too! And to add to all of that, the music was outstanding, as this song demonstrates!
3. *shels - The Conference of The Birds
As Rob Gordon says "You've gotta start high, then take it up a notch, then bring it down a little". Unfortunately, none of these songs took it down, so you'll have to do with this incredible 9 minute epic by *shels, a band with one of the most incredible albums I've heard in years. This one was a Rock Sound CD, where I was first introduced to the band, and sat in awe as I listened, then replayed it at least twice, before using my hard earned cash to import this album on Amazon. Incredible song and album.
4. The Stills - Animals + Insects
The Stills first album 'Logic Will Break Your Heart' holds a special place in my heart. Just after a wedding out by the coast of Scotland, I took a wander around the area with my CD player at the time, staring up at the stars and listening to this. I had never really heard it before then, in fact I'd ignored it for months after I had gotten it as a Birthday gift. But when I really listened to it, It clicked with me and I love it. This isn't the best off that album (that would be 'Gender Bombs'), but it is an absolutely brilliant song.
5. Genghis Tron - Arms
Off on the most bewitchingly strange tangent now, Genghis Tron are pretty far away from any other genre here, but with the little electronic work here, I figured this was the best home for it. Be prepared to be confused, and hear blast beats mixed with post-rock tendancies and soft electronica, I think it's pretty damn solid, and works pretty well within this setting. Though you probably disagree, don't you?
6. The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Alright, I would be hard pressed to find anyone who hadn't heard this song before, but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be included. For the uninitiated, when Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard isn't doing the aforementioned, he does this with an electronic artist named Dntel, and we should all be happy that he does, as 'Give Up' is possibly one of the best albums ever, with this in the shortlist for 'Song Of The Decade' at the Valhala Awards sponsered by God. There's also a really sombre little cover by Iron And Wine out there which is well worth finding.
7. Hundred Year Storm - Mental
A little band I found with the genius tool found on Purevolume.com 'Random Profile Jump', which I could litteraly spend days doing (and have). This band came out of nowhere, as I think I was searching post-hardcore at the time. Still, this song and the few other songs they have up there are great, even if they having nothing in common musically! A really enjoyable little song, inclusive of a speech by Martin Luther King Jr.
8. Ahleuchatistas - The Day The Earth Stood Still
One of the strangest little bands I heard on my search for songs to complete HNM2, this band verge on punk, a little bit post-rock, but especially Jazz. They have a song or two from most of their releases on their website, pretty much all good! It's a great song, but I wouldn't blame you though if you made faces
like this on first listen though.
9. Protest The Hero - Heretics & Killers
Protest The Hero's latest album is just incredible and the closest band to come to the epic complex metal opera that is Between The Buried And Me's 'Colors'. This however is from and earlier album, in (slightly) more simpler times. Incredible riffs, near falsetto vocals, great arrangement and theres a great guitar battle at the end. Great.
10. Youthmovies - Ores
Although this is from when they were called Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies, Youthmovies display why they are one of the best rising talents in the UKs experimantal music scene. It's inventive and it harks itself to the best of British Emo, while traveling to such exotic locations as Post-Hardcore and Electronica. What's not to like?
11. Colour - Conversations
I'll be honest, I'm not entirely sure how I came across this band, but it was probably though Big Scary Monsters label site, as I've just jumped on that brilliant wagon of great bands. This actually reminds me, funnily enough, of a little band who are split up now Colour Of Fire, even although there is absolutely no connection! Weird. Maybe an inspiration? Who knows. All I know is that this song is pretty damn good, catchy too!
12. Bayside - Duality
I've known this band for years now, but I only really got into them when 'The Walking Wounded' hit last year. They may be on Victory Records, but don't take that as a bad thing, as this is one of the few bands that are actually great on that label (theres about 6), and their back catalogue is just as good as their most recent output too. I can't wait for more and consider myself as a bit of a fan now!
13. Blakfish - Jeremy Kyle Is A Marked Man
This is the other headlining band from the Tubelord gig I was at. Boy, that was a night to remember. Their set was great and had an incredible ending too. The three members of tubelord ran on during the last song, stole to instruments from everyone but the drummer, and proceeded to play the end of the song, while Tubelord ran around the 13th note starting pits and jumping on tables. Great gig, and this song is great too. Their a little heavier live, but that is no bad thing!
14. pg.lost - Yes I Am
This song comes as part of one of many compilations by a website called
The Silent Ballet with what seems like full conscent of the bands featured. That means that yes, theres no MP3 link here, but the compilation is brilliant so thats no bad thing. Originally I came to this one for Balmorhea but Pg.Lost won me over and stole the place (But rest assured, Balmorhea will feature soon!) with their brilliant post-rock stylings. Fantastic.
15. Every Time I Die - I Been Gone A Long Time
I don't have to explain this choice to you, the song will do that for me, with it's pop-laden hardcore hooks and great raspy vocals and stripped back bass and thundery drums. Damn it. I just explained myself didn't I? Damn you, cowbell!
16. Mike Park - On That Stage
I first heard of Mike Park when he supported Alkaline Trio at Barrowlands, and his inclusive slideshow and acoustic show working together to win the crowd over. His music is quiet yet fun, and it's an enjoyable break from the constant hardcore, metal and post-rock I love to throw at you so much.
17. Adebisi Shank - Jump Cut
Back to all that stuff, and this takes me back to that Tubelord/Blakfish gig I keep going on about, even though this band weren't even playing. Y'see, after the gig, I spent about £35 on merch, showing my appreciation to the bands. But what they had that interested me, was a box full of CDs by bands you've never heard of, all for cheap prices. I asked the guy at the table to give me a few descriptive words on each one, and picked one based on those words. This is what I picked, and boy am I glad! The EP is brilliant. And as this song shows, this band are well worth random buyings of their material. Take a chance!
18. Cats And Cats And Cats - Happiness For Lola
This band are a little like the latter (I may have found them on a myspace string of friends links) if not slightly more upbeat. Plus, with a name like Cats And Cats And Cats, how can you not love this band? Their instrumental and post-rock tones can lighten up even the saddest mans day.
19. This Will Destroy You - The World Is Our
How better to finish, than with the best post-rock I've ever heard? This Will Destroy You have one increible mini album and a Full Length in their back catalogue which are both well worth hunting down. Escpecially with the range of formats you can get it on too. You can even get it on cassette, wrapped in foe fur! Enjoy it, I have.
Till next time,
Carl.
Bayside
Bayside
1. I Swallowed Hard Like I Understood
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