Janus: If I Were You
November 30, 2008
Based in Chicago, Illinois. From the album Red Right Return - Nov 2008.
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Drawing power from the world’s grid of hurt, desperation, and conflict, Janus now resides in the dark corners of loss, a future of bleak outlook, and ambiguous meaning. Through war machines, rallies, and secret communications, they follow the pursuit of shining a dark light on an existence in need of reveal. The organization’s second campaign, Red Right Return, is a sea of rebellion against the broken standards and whimsically abused power of the current governing body. Deployment |
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Popularity: 22% [?]
John Brown’s Body: Give Yourself Over
November 29, 2008
Elliot Martin, lead vocalist of the Cambridge based progressive reggae band John Brown’s Body, had some choice words about their musical direction that we’d like to share here:
“I think that the strongest reggae was coming out of the UK in the 70’s and early 80’s,” Elliot explains. “It was the best produced, had the most complex songwriting; it’s the most progressive reggae that’s been made. Steel Pulse, Aswad, Reggae Regular, Misty in Roots, Mikey Dread, Dennis Bovell and Linton Kwesi Johnson were doing groundbreaking stuff. I want to pick up where those artists left off. Of course, we don’t come close to what those artists did, but I think that’s where the idea comes from—that reggae can take other forms. I guess I’m just saying that I see our music as progressive reggae.”
Other artists Elliot listened to extensively–and was influenced by–while writing Amplify include Sigur Ros, Batch, Toumani Diabate, Sly and Robbie, Radiohead, Talib Kweli, Aswad, Funkadelic, King Tubby, Roots Manuva, Masaru Sato and Midnite (whose lead singer, Vaughn Benjamin, lends a vocal to the end of “Speak Of The Devil”). Certainly not the typical play list for a reggae band, but the band’s deep reggae roots are not hard to find amongst all of the other influences.
JBB has has several life changing events the past few years, but the biggest involved Elliot’s voice and threatened the band’s ability to soldier on once more. Fittingly, it was during that same January 2006 tour that Elliot began to notice problems with his vocal strength and endurance; after months of doctor’s visits and vocal training, the problem was finally revealed to be vocal polyps. Elliot not only had surgery in early 2008 to remove them, he also began voice training to teach him to put less strain on his throat. “I feel better every day. Each show back after surgery, I could feel myself getting stronger. Now I think I’m doing things I couldn’t even do before,” Elliot says. “Add that to the energy of the new line-up and this new batch of songs, and we can’t wait to get back on the road. It’s going to be fun!”
“Amplify”, the explosive new studio album from John Brown’s Body, features twelve tracks of drum & bass-heavy, dub-inflected electro grooves that make up the sound JBB is known for, with a forward-thinking, fearless approach to tempos, beats, and feel that expands on what has been brought forth on previous releases.
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John Brown’s Body
“Give Yourself Over” (mp3)
from “Amplify”
(Easy Star Records)
Buy at Easy Star Records
Popularity: 22% [?]
Bankrupt: Sidewinder
November 28, 2008
From their 4th Album/EP release, Rocket To Riot City
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Bankrupt have mostly been known for their Ramones / Descendents influenced melodic punk tunes so far. Now they have returned with the five roughest, angriest, and most energetic songs of their career, incorporating elements of Dwarves-style rockandroll punk, and punkabilly (from The Living End to the Peacocks) in their renewed sound to reflect the changed atmosphere around them. “Panic at the fireworks, riots on the streets / We’ve traded in reality for some shattered dreams” No-one has captured the essence of Hungary’s past few years as perfectly as Bankrupt on their new release, Rocket To Riot City. Once the eminent country of the former Eastern Bloc, Hungary has become the sick man of Europe facing economic and political crises, and suffering the roughest riots of its recent history. Hence the title of the album, and the above quote from “Years of Disasters”. |
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Popularity: 21% [?]
Peasant: The Wind
November 27, 2008
From the small working class community of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Peasant is the pseudonym for Damien DeRose, a talented singer-songwriter specializing in his own beautifully haunting yet minimalistic style of indie folk.
Peasant released the sophomore album ‘On the Ground’ earlier this year on Paper Garden Records, a label out of Nashville, Tennessee founded and run by Bryan Vaughan. You may recognize the label’s popular debut signing, Eagle*Seagull from a few short years back.
Steeped with a somewhat melancholic sound, Peasant sings about ‘The Wind’ in stirring picturesque detail, which subverts the traditional definition of folk and brands its unique imprint into the listeners psyche after several listens. We see Peasant on or close to following the lightly trodden footpaths of such modern trailblazers as ‘Elliott Smith’, ‘Sam Beam’, ‘Tom Brosseau’ or the ‘Great Lakes Swimmers’.
Peasant has had the opportunity to play shows with other rising indie-rock bands we’ve played here at Insomnia, such as Takka Takka, The Muslims, and Japanese Motors. With this notable experience under his belt, Damien is now embarking on a three week tour leading into the Jan. 27th hard release of ‘On the Ground’. He is being assisted by the marketing and distribution of Team Love (Conor Oberst’s label), which is a definite boon.
You can pick up Damien’s album at e-music , iTunes, Amazon, or the Paper Garden storefront. Upcoming tourdates follow below. [cs]
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11/27 - Baltimore, MD @ tbd
11/29 - Washington, DC @ Velvet Lounge
12/1 - Pitman, NJ @ Bus Stop Music
12/2 - New York, NY @ Public Assembly
12/3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Connie’s Ric Rac
12/4 - Westchester, PA @ Fennario’s
12/5 - Bronxville, NY @ Sarah Lawrence College
12/6 - Bridgeport, CT @ Acoustic Cafe
12/7 - New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
12/8 - Hartford, CT @ tbd
12/9 - Torrington, CT @ Metropolis Records
12/10 - Providence, RI @ tbd
12/11 - Boston, MA @ TT The Bears
12/12 – Doylestown, PA @ House party
12/17 - New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
12/19 - Cincinnati, OH @ WOXY session
12/20 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Crow’s Nest
12/21 - Pendleton, IN @ LaundroMatinee session
Popularity: 21% [?]
Drunksouls: Uniform Reggae
November 26, 2008
Continuing the Insomnia Radio Daily Dose’s trip to Europe, this band are from the South of France.
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From their Artist Page on Jamendo:
“Drunk Souls: A strange team composed by a former dictator, a pedalo world champion (the famous brazilian star Borgelao), a vicious missionaire, an Eric Clapton sosie and a couple of Chuck Norris fan twins. Don’t be scared by their troubled individual path, just listen to the music they perform together…” This song is the last on their recent album ‘On verra plus tard… Remix 2008′ and is actually called ‘Bonus track - Uniform Reggae Mix 6′. |
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Popularity: 21% [?]
Sambassadeur: Subtle Changes
November 25, 2008
While combing for music through the do-it-yourself online DJ website, Blip.FM I came across a great artist recommended by sudaca70, a fellow site user who is from Argentina. Several tracks were blipped (or streamed) that night and I quickly found myself enraptured by the sounds of the Swedish group Sambassadeur, subsequently exploring tracks over the next few days from their 2008 release, Migration.
Migration is a collection of neo-pop classics, taking their influence at times from iconic underground sounds (such as Yo La Tengo, GoBetweens, Velvets), mixing them together to create a modern - day Swedish - pop classic. Migration includes the acclaimed singles (Subtle Changes, The Park), and a glorious cover version of the Dennis Wilson’s morose classic “Fallin’ in Love”.
Sambassadeur is from Gothenburg, and apparently named after the Serge Gainsbourg song, Les Sambassadeurs. This track, Subtle Changes really seemed to strike a chord and keep causing me to think of certain parts of the urgent main theme from the movie Das Boot.
Thanks for listening, and make sure to drop by Blip.FM. You can catch me there as irsocal.
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Sambassadeur
“Subtle Changes” (mp3)
from “Migration”
(Creeping Bent Organisation)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Popularity: 21% [?]
The Singletons: Once Upon A Time
November 24, 2008
From their recent eponymous album.
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With a deceptive name, this band are from from Barcelona, Spain. And they don’t play the sort of music you might expect either. Their sound is no nonsense 70s garage rock , and this song is fairly typical of the eleven songs on the album, which is available as free download from Jamendo. [SM] |
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Popularity: 21% [?]
AMPed New Music Weekly: Show #154
November 23, 2008
This week’s host: Rodrigo from Cowboy Cantor
Show: Insomnia Radio: The SoCal Sessions
Song: Scream (Nico Stai)
Show: Indie Music Sampler
Song: Follow Me Home (Breanna Paletta)
Show: It’s A Frog’s Life Acoustic Podcast
Song: Young (Shagpile)
Show: Eclectic Mix
Song: Smiling Perspective (General Fuzz)
Show: Atlantic Wave Radio
Song: That Cold Hard Sell (Rob Szabo)
Show: PC Podcast with Pete Cogle
Song: Black White (The Raveonettes)
Show: Darkhorse Radio
Song: Ten Fields (Jarah Jane)
Show: Cowboy Cantor
Song: highschoolalloveragain (Certain Stars)
Popularity: 5% [?]
Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start: The Red Loop
November 23, 2008
Named after a Konami cheat code used on retro gaming platforms, New Jersey’s Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start recently called it quits. Luckily before they disbanded, they left us with the fantastic 2007 full length aptly titled ‘Worst Band Name Ever’.
“Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start… Why is this the worst band name ever? For so many reasons. With a band name like this you should be looking for keytar solos and overweight comic book loving super fans, right? Well, you only get one of those and it’s not a keytarist on his knees.” [bio]
This track and around forty others can be found for free on their website, although the full length album is also available for purchase at e-music and iTunes.
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Up Up Down Down: “I’ll Thank You Later”
Popularity: 21% [?]
IR SoCal Welcomes: Ox - LA City
November 22, 2008
About a year ago, I was talking to Leo Cain at the TLP Show about occasionally featuring bands from other areas who were writing songs about the area that we live in. Its definitely refreshing to see others views on the region you were raised in; some who have visited, some who’ve only seen the Southern California area via TV, movies, and other media.
Examining that theme we bring you a track by Canada’s alt-country stylized project, Ox, a favorite from their 2003 album, Dust Bowl Revival. Ox is basically Mark Browning, a one man show who wrote a really great solitary album full of introspective tunes.
Maintaining a grass roots approach - Ox has done it the hard way - thousands of miles in cramped mini-vans… countless nights spent bedding down on floors, couches… pool tables… bad food, stale beer - blown tires, road kill. Ox’s sound is the sound of the open road - from not far above it.
You can pick this one up at iTunes or e-music. Oh bye bye…
Popularity: 15% [?]
The Brilliant Mistakes: On The Day I Found My Hands
November 22, 2008
From their album Distant Drumming (Oct 2008)
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The Brilliant Mistakes are a New York City-based band who specialize in radiantly melodic roots rock brimming with classic pop songcraft, vintage sounds and lush harmonies. Fronted by two songwriters, Alan Walker and Erik Philbrook, and joined musically at the hip with drummer Paul Mauceri, the group’s new and third album, Distant Drumming (featuring such special guests as Mike Viola of the Candy Butchers and longtime Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell) overflows with infectious melodies, insightful lyrics and dynamic musicianship, best exemplified by such stylistic peers as Wilco, My Morning Jacket and Spoon. For more info on The Brilliant Mistakes, visit thebrilliantmistakes.com. [MySpace] |
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Popularity: 20% [?]
Noxious: Paper King
November 21, 2008
Ben Franklin once said, “Energy & persistence conquer all things” and Greensville, South Carolina group Noxious is the living embodiment of that statement. The band managed to sell over 2000 copies of their first self-titled album, playing an inhuman 190 tourdates in 2006 in support of that album.
In 2007, Noxious released the EP Revilutia, ripe full of influences such as Tool, Led Zeppelin, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and System of a Down. They even made a few videos in support of this EP, one of which, ‘Paper King‘, is available below.
With a truckload of drive, determination, talent & vision - Noxious creates music that reaches an ever-growing & diverse fan base. Please check them out at MySpace and you can purchase the last EP at iTunes and CD Baby. The single Paper King is also available now as a free download from iLike and Garageband.
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Popularity: 20% [?]
Dive Index: Sole Fisherman
November 20, 2008
A true collaborative effort, ‘Mid/Air’, the new album from Dive Index, gathers vocal and instrumental talents from across the globe and weaves them into a melodically rich and sonically intriguing sound.
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Using a blend of electronic and acoustic elements as the backdrop, the focus here is on the songs, leading the listener on a series of personal and emotional journeys. Being lost in a foreign country, the insecure political climate, the lonely life of a fisherman, channel surfing, and absorbing comfort in life and loss– these are some of the melancholy themes touched upon throughout the album. And yet, ‘Mid Air’ still manages to retain some glimmers of hope. |
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Links
IODA Promonet Links
Dive Index
“Sole Fisherman” (mp3)
from “Collisions - The Mid/Air Remixes”
(Neutral Music)
Buy at Neutral Music
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Popularity: 20% [?]
Surf City: Dickshakers Union
November 19, 2008
New Zealand group Surf City first came in to existence when bored friends Davin Stoddard and Josh Kennedy met at a party in Mt Roskill in 2004. Tired of the heavy avant-garde music that was prolific at the time Stoddard and Kennedy teamed up with Josh’s brother Jamie and Logan Collins to form the band. Originally called The Fibs and then Kill Surf City their fascination with fast guitar pop and the early ’80s sound of Dunedin soon saw them develop their own unique and catchy sound.
Known as Kill Surf City for the last 3 years they recently shortened their name to just Surf City. As the name is a throw back to an old Jesus and Mary Chain B-side a couple of other bands in America and the UK had adopted the same alias. With the likelihood of overseas travel in the future and to avoid subsequent confusion the name was changed.
Following a couple of tours of New Zealand, numerous day jobs and several flat evictions, Surf City released their debut self titled EP on Arch Hill Recordings on August 6th. The majority of the six song EP was recorded in 2006 in various lounges and bedrooms around Auckland. After the mixes were finalized by Murray Fisher, Davin hunted out infamous American artist Steve Keene to produce the EP’s artwork. Keene has created paintings for bands like the Silver Jews and Pavement and was more than happy to design for Surf City. With the direction of ‘chickens, guns and the desert’ Keene has created a perfectly colourful haphazard scene. [bio]
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Surf City
“Dickshakers Union” (mp3)
from “Surf City”
(Arch Hill Records)
Buy at iTunes Music Store
.
Popularity: 18% [?]
IR:Detroit #22: The Pilz!!
November 18, 2008
The Pilz
Back again for another interview with a great Detroit band, The Pilz! I had the pleasure of sitting and talking with 3 of the 4 members of the band a couple months ago and had some interesting discussions!!
These guys are great live - check them out if you’re in the Detroit area!!
Popularity: 11% [?]
