The Hold Steady - Boys & Girls in America

From a band that seems to often bitterly divide opinions, Boys & Girls in America is, to me at least, one hell of a record. Channelling the spirit of Springsteen and cataloguing the booze soaked highs and drug addled lows of life in the fast lanes and slow gutters, this is American rock at it's very finest. Yes, Craig Finn's voice is odd, but it's also fantastic - and yes, they are all in their mid 30's and largely look like a collection of extras from a magic show - but that's part of their innate charm in an age of such staggeringly self consciousness and bullshit 'irony'. 

Listening to this album is like having your favourite crazy uncle come round with a six pack and a cheeky reefer to talk about the ridiculous stuff he used to get up to when he was young and stupid. It's exhilarating, life affirming stuff through and through. There is a wealth of talent in this record, and the more you listen to these Brooklyn boys the more you'll get out of it, I promise.

http://rapidshare.com/files/359249777/The_Hold_Stead_-_Boys_and_Girls_in_America.zip

Cave In - Antenna

 

The fourth album from Cave In, Antenna, finds the Massachusetts-based hardcore innovators streaking away from their former orbit at fantastic speed. The band's earlier albums marked them out as talented exponents of the brutally heavy end of the post-hardcore genre - things could not be more different with Antenna - it is a leap into a newly expansive, effects-laden sound that seems to borrow from groups as diverse as Radiohead to Rival Schools to The Foo Fighters.

You'll like it, so give it a spin!

http://rapidshare.com/files/356164198/Cave_In_-_Antenna.zip

Cast King - Saw Mill Man

Wow, this record is just fantastic. Stripped down, bare boned, raw and unrefined country blues, it literally oozes authenticity.

J.D. 'Cast' King was 79 years old when he recorded this album, his first and sadly only full record before he died, despite a life time of travelling the roads, playing in bars and venues across the South. The songs recount the country staples - hard working, hard drinking, hard living, wine, women and lonely motels - with remarkable honesty

This stuff is pure solid gold.

http://rapidshare.com/files/341427539/Cast_King_-_Saw_Mill_Man.rar

The Allies - D-Day

A rare old school classic for you, a pretty hard to find and rare EP from 2000 by The Allies - these guys take instrumental hip hop and turntablism to another level - incredible beats, rhythms, scratches and samples, this stuff is pure gold. If you're a fan of the likes of DJ Krush, you're sure to enjoy this one.

As ever, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

The_Allies_-_D-Day.zip

Heyoka - Gate Code Promo Mix

Hello and Happy New year!

So, something entirely different for you this time round - a great promo mix from Heyoka - which is frankly rather challenging to describe. Fusing dub, glitch hop and dubsteb into a single wall of sound, this audio jungle is quite something. It's particularly refreshing to hear something so different and energetic, so check it out and let me know what you think...

Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/330177045/Heyoka_-_Gate_Code_Promo_Mix_for_BijouBeats_-_June_2009.mp3

Benedictum - Uncreation

Holy crap, what a stonking great album this is - absolutely one of my best finds of the year. This is pure, unadulterated audio dynamite!



LA based power metal five piece Benedictum really have to be heard to be believed. Powered by female front Veronica Freeman, I was immediately blown away by her voice, which really is impressive, both because of its shear force, but also due to her vast range. Impressive technical guitar work, topped off with some excellent production, means this album is a real gem. 

Classic metal never sounded so good and so contemporary.

Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/327915686/Uncreation.rar.html

Relaunch

So, having failed to do anything really constructive with this new blog since I started it in May, I'm going to give it a kick in the butt and try to actually do something with the damn thing.

Keep your eyes peeled for music related postings soon...