Neglectful Blogger

I really suck when it comes to sticking to blogs. However, I'm really awesome when it comes to delaying real life work. That said, time for a blog update.

The Raymond Brake - "Piles of Dirty Winters"

- Prob my favorite rock album to come out of North Carolina, second to Superchunk's "Here's Where The Strings Come In". Such an underrated band. From Greensboro (sup, Bowser?). The song Filthy Lucre is worthy of playing on repeat about a million times.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?nmrf0nrnymn

Best Coast - "Make You Mine" 7 inch

- My love for the two ladies of Pocahaunted and all things related is, unlike Bethany's role in the group, never ending. I posted some Best Coast demos awhile ago - here is one of Bethany's 7 inch releases. Sure, the tropical, drugged-out beach stuff was way overdone this summer...and it's definitely not warm in DC anymore...but Best Coast is great and this record is evidence of that claim. I don't even smoke pot, but these songs make me want to find a beach, a pair of sunglasses, and a bowl. Get @ it.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?zw3mmmkmew3

Tracey Thorn - "A Distant Shore"

- One of my favorite albums of all time. Tracey Thorn released this solo album in between her stint as a Marine Girl and joining up with Ben Watt to form Everything But The Girl. There isn't really enough I can say about this album to do it justice. Every track is good (8 in total, 2 covers), but my favorites are probably tracks 1, 2, 3, and 8. Track 8, Too Happy, is prob in my top 10 songs of all time. So...listen and never stop listening.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/file/25fyzyimgzy/TT_ADS.zip

Small update...must finish work.

Credit (and begin to frequent) the following blogs:

- http://shinygreymonotone.blogspot.com/
- nonameleeds.blogspot.com/

BONUS: I saw Ghastly City Sleep w/ Pygmy Lush, Tideland, and Litany For The Whale near my apartment on Friday. Here is a song I grabbed from GCS's set.

I've been neglecting my (formerly) local thrift store lately. Dropped by Thursday after work and was given the gift of some sweet finds (what is pictured + 3 matching, crystal scotch glasses)...totaling just $10.

Another thing I've been neglecting as of late is Max Richter records...

So here is Songs From Before, which contains my favorite Richter piece, Autumn Music 1.

Max Richter - "Songs From Before"

- Neo-classical. Just download. Highly recommended.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?im2l4mkmdme

A Reminder

I was just reminded why I go to Dairy Queen for the ice cream...not the food.

So...How about this weather?

Fall is the one season I actually look forward to in DC. I'll spare the trite, music-for-the-season introduction and just get to the uploads. It'll get cheesy enough in the album descriptions, I'm sure. Here is music for fall.

Ida - "I Know About You"

- This album is popular with certain crowds, sure, but I never understood why it didn't garner more attention. Maybe because it was released in '96? It seems to have more of a cult following than anything else. Anyway, Hippie/Bohemian folk-pop from New York. Incredible harmonies from married couple Elizabeth Mitchell and Daniel Littleton. So many standout tracks - Tellings, Backburner, Downtown, Treasure Chest, August Again, Requator, Little Things. As soon as the temperature drops, this album comes into heavy rotation.

DOWNLOAD: http://rapidshare.com/files/158892896/Ida_I_K_Ab_u.rar

Sixteen Horsepower - "Sackcloth 'n' Ashes

- This band's sound is always so tough for me to describe. Traditional in the sense that they draw heavy influence from legitimate Americana, bluegrass, folk groups, as well as avant-garde punk rock (Joy Divison, Nick Cave, etc) and blend these influences in a very raw, impassioned, beautifully molded manner. So...traditional...in a...non-traditional sense? Wait, what? Interesting themes in terms of lyrical arrangements, too. Another '96 release. It could be 95 degrees outside, but the track American Wheeze transplants me into late October every listen.

DOWNLOAD: http://rapidshare.com/files/151527131/sackcloth__n__ashes_-_16_hoarsepower.rar.html

Planes Mistaken For Stars - "Self-Titled"

- Back before they began to go downhill. Emotional, melodic hardcore. Probably my favorite release throughout my time in high school. Copper and Stars, The Past Two, and Standing Still Fast are 3 of my favorite songs from the entire genre. Not so much a recurring theme, but recurring time frame within this post...this is yet another album from the 90s - 1999.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.megadownload.net/download/mu/n277jko2/1999-planes-mistaken-for-stars..zip

Telefon Tel Aviv - "Farenheit Fair Enough"

- I don't really know why this reminds me of fall. It's a glitchy, electronic release - without vocals for the most part - that I suppose is so chill it can really blend in with any season. Highly recommended, regardless of temperature. Tracks 1 and 4 are my favorites.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?zplsw5xybdr

Whiskeytown - "Pneumonia"

- I kind of worship this album. Bar Lights is one of my favorite songs of the last 10 years. That's all that needs to be said.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IAD8KPEG

Dogs + My Childhood

I remember a time, as a child, when I would completely drop everything I was doing at the moment to point and laugh at the sight of my dog going to the bathroom in our backyard. I didn't do this for my own amusement (because, really, who wants to see a dog taking a dump?), but more so to embarrass my dog...which I always managed to accomplish. The look of humiliation on her face cracked me up at the time.

Anyway, as I was walking to my car this morning, I saw a dog going to the bathroom and thought to myself, "How embarrassing. The poor guy has to do this in front of all of these people." I then realized how much of an asshole I must have been to point and laugh at my dog who just needed to relieve herself and had no other option but to do so in a backyard frequented by a dick of a child.

I guess I've done a bit of growing up since then...

Anyway...music:

Sandie Shaw - "Hand In Glove 12 inch"

- Sandie Shaw has a great voice and has been active for something like 30 years. This particular release features Sandie's rendition of the Smiths' first single, Hand In Glove. Rough Trade (I believe) got in touch with her to record the cover and got the Smiths to actually act as the backing band. It really is a great cover. I believe the backing track, I Don't Owe You Anything, is another Smiths cover...again, a great one. Jeane is a Sandie original, I believe, and, once again, is great. An incredibly solid 12" single record that I am still trying to track down at brick and mortar stores (ie not eBay).

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?ydvvincy2dw

Neokarma Jooklo Trio - "Time's Vibes"

- Take some sort of drug and listen to the first track on repeat. Trippy, tribal influence. Love this group.

DOWNLOAD: http://download127.mediafire.com/tnocvk0oc1tg/2tj2mn1wrgg/Time%27s+Vibes.zip

Popo - "Kill Tonight 7 inch"

- Love this release. Nasty garage pop. Kill Tonight takes a few listens to get into, but then you realize how great it is. Short, to the point, and catchy as hell.

DOWNLOAD: http://download714.mediafire.com/m1xoiswv9tsg/zjmixnnznnt/popo+kill+tonight+7+inch+%28nonameleeds%29.rar

Pygmy Shrews - "Big Time cassette"

- I stumbled upon this cassette months ago, just after the band had played DNA Test Fest at Velvet Lounge, and was instantly bummed. Not because I didn't like the cassette. The exact opposite, in fact. Grungy noise-rock from Brooklyn. The first track, Catheter, is one of the best songs I've heard this year (assuming the cassette was released this year - I'm not totally sure). Anyway, enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?o25m1wmynkj


BTW - Check out http://nonameleeds.blogspot.com/.

Quick Hello

Small update. Preparing for the rain. I had intended on hosting a going-away party for two Dutch friends this evening on my building's rooftop, but it looks as if the weather will force us indoors. I don't have enough chairs. Ooph.

Blonde Redhead - "Misery Is A Butterfly"

- Post-Sonic Youth worship, pre-dream pop. I love this record and could listen to the track Elephant Woman all day long. It is almost as if the tracks all seem to blend into one, which is a good thing.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LKVVVRY9


Twelve Hour Turn - "Perfect Progress, Perfect Destruction"

- One of many great releases from this band. Their last, and best, full length. So many great tracks. I used to listen to the song Dont Let The Music Die And Don't Replace Me on constant repeat.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?0nqeh51rnmy

COLOSSAL DONUT

Best "Worst Lunch" ever.

$0.59 for this baby.

<3 YOU, PG COUNTY.


Gunmoll - "Board of Rejection"

- One of No Idea's most underappreciated albums, in my opinion. Catchy as hell, raspy, fun punk rock. The lyrics, while not necessarily the most poetic, are incredibly genuine and that is one of the reasons I love this album so much - specifically in songs like Free And Tied, Less Than You Hoped For, and Couples Skate. This album really doesn't get the respect it deserves. It was a huge step up from their debut LP and an all around incredibly solid record. Highly recommended.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=R1QBAS84

Work + Blog

I am an auditor for a CPA firm. What I love about the current state of my job is the fact that I am still relatively new, which means I still know relatively nothing about my field of work. That said, it is interim time, which means I conduct a lot of interviews with clients. Point being, half of the time I don't know what the hell I am talking about when conducting these interviews - I am simply following procedures from the prior year's audit, yet the interviewee does not see it that way. So, essentially, I can screw up and somehow manage to not make myself look like an ass...unless my in-charge happens to sit in on an interview, which happens from time to time. This just happened, which is what sparked the blog entry.

Anyway, music...

Julianna Barwick - "Florine" EP

- One of my favorite releases of the year thus far. Tons of layered vocal tracks that pretty much act as instrumentation, backed with piano on occasion. Brooklyn has played home to some great acts this year.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?l0yinmzzddg


Dead Mellotron - "Ghost Light Constellation" EP

- I love this guy's stuff. Shoegazey at times...a lot of ambient stuff. Before my house's garage was shut down as a DC venue, I had spoken with him about booking and he said he was in the process of putting together a live band. So..look out for any sort of Dead Mellotron east coast tour (if it hasn't happened already). Anyway, essential listening, right here.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?gnjhczofjtm

Cold Blood - "Cold Blood"

- Lydia Pense's voice is incredible. Enough said. Listen to the track "If You Will"....again and again and again. This album was released in '68 or '69. I was fortunate enough to find the LP pretty easily (thanks, Crooked Beat). Sort of a psychedelic/rock/funk, who, with the addition of Pense, added an element of soul...which is why I love them so much. They sort of remind me of Smith, who I will be posting later. Anyway, enjoy...

DOWNLOAD: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1HPD3VUY

Roof Every Night

So my night has devolved from plans of going to a show at Velvet Lounge, to plans of cleaning my apartment, to eating dinner, drinking beers, and writing this blog entry on my building's roof. I can't complain...as always, great breeze, not a soul up here, comfortable chair, and the beer buzz that makes working an 830 to 6p day not seem as bad it may sound.

Anyway, here is the soundtrack to my rooftop dinner. Enjoy.

Majority Rule - "Interviews with David Frost"

- probably my favorite Virginia band of, maybe, all time. They've put on some of the most fun, intense shows I've ever seen. Whether it be at the UMD radio station, random churches in DC, or, oddly enough, the Black Cat...the intensity never dwindled. I'm not one for reunion shows, but this is one band I'd love to see reunite for one final show.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?tngmtd2tzyw

Marine Girls - "On My Mind" 45

- One of the few songs I can listen to over and over and over again. This is Tracy Thorn's old group that existed from 1980 to 1983. She later went on to form Everything But The Girl...who covered On My Mind.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?8digqlfwrzd

Pocahaunted - "Goldminers' Daughters"

- Probably my favorite of the many, many releases from this group. Sadly, Bethany has left the group to form Best Coast (incredibly catchy smoked-up, surf pop). But Diva from blackblack has taken over Bethany's spot in the band. According to Brit/Amanda at NNF, the last Pocahaunted release (the live cassette) will be the last release under the name Pocahaunted. Bummer. But their new stuff sounds like some crucial, jam-band psychedelic stuff...so it's all good, I 'spose.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?dznjzybzezy

The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa - "Pigment"

- Their earlier releases (ie this one) were really great shoegaze. The opening track to this EP, "What", is too catchy for words. To top it off, they're a Czech band. Female vocals...great stuff.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?ktxjndhd2mn

125 rue Monmartre - "S/T 7 inch"

- Incredible record. Great German, female fronted emo band. They broke up in 2000 or so. This is a must have 7" for anyone into bands like Dahlia Seed and the like.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?mz3gzjuzyte

Oscillating Innards - "Droneseas 3"

- Great ambient/noise. Intense stuff. I wish I could actually track down the releases rather than just downloading. Anyway, enjoy.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.mediafire.com/?qnymm1tz2xn

Noise fans, check out http://cassettetapesuperstar.blogspot.com for some great, tough to find cassettes. Probably one of my favorite blogs out there.

Oh, God, I'm Back...

So, after 2 entire posts, and numerous months off, I've decided to come back to this blog that is frequented by less people than I have fingers. For those who do read this thing (I guess 'did' would be the operative word), you have Marita to thank. Though my writing and topics won't be nearly as eloquent as hers, it'll be...something...and that's better than nothing...I suppose.

Anyway, more music to come, along with stories and pictures that have nothing to do with said music but moreso my life and the people around me.

If I'm able to get through more than 2 posts this time around, I'll consider this a success.