COSMONAUTS - S/T 12'' LP and CASSETTE

I saw Cosmonauts while they were on a Burger Tour in the summer of 2010. They came through and played in a small art space with Cum Stain and Nobunny - unless Nobunny was some other time and it was some other time because they played with Cum Stain and Audacity that night. Anyhow, there was a bit of an issue with our PA system and the gang more or less played without vocals. Despite the setback, Cosmonauts thoroughly impressed and are now my favourite band. I put up a 7" release of theirs a couple years ago and recently found that they have most of their discography up on bandcamp (minus some limited release comps, an Italian released 7'', and any other pre-signed material). So, let's take a look at their self-titled.

They released it with Burger (BRGR049) on a limited run of 250 red cassettes. I was lucky to snag one because the cassettes are long gone by now, but they did re-release on vinyl a year later - several different versions. A few of us were lucky enough to get it on 'Easter Egg Yellow.' This self-titled is one hell of a first cassette. It's hard to pin-point tracks of interest on albums that are so solid, but if you are pressed for time (these are full length songs ladies and gents) then check out Neon Kids, Dorothy, and Yer So Rad. Actually, if you are pressed for time then wait. This album should be listened to in its entirety. Cosmonauts will gladly drag you through ups and downs of psychedelia - upbeat hip shakers, downbeat droning trance, eastern inspired instrumentals, and lazy nearly-inaudible vocals. There may be many ways to play music but they make rock and roll the way it should be made. If this album isn't something you can dig on, then don't come back to this blog because you don't belong here.

The four men of Cosmonauts are some hard working cats and are always on tour. Check out their facebook for dates because I am sure you can find them in your area soon enough. Also check out all their stuff on bandcamp. You'll need to do some extra clicking to buy things and it is worth it. Listen and love it.



cosmonautstheband@gmail.com
cosmonautstheband.bandcamp.com/
facebook.com/cosmonautstheband

SULTAN BATHERY - FIREWORX

 So, this little release is a bit over a year old and we all know that if it is older than six months and younger than 20 years then it is no longer relevant. But that isn't going  to stop anyone from sharing it with you. Sultan Bathery is a groovy little three piece from Italy. These three gents seem to be making some splashes here and  there with interviews here and there and blog shout outs here and there and some facebook fans here and there and today we listen to the band's first EP, Fireworx - released in October of 2012. They have  since been touring throughout Europe and a quick  overview of the facebook doesn't say anything about  any US shows, but if you find something out that I  didn't bother taking the time to read (let's face it, google is for information and this blog is for  music) then please throw it in the comments.

The EP starts with the title track - a little ditty with beefy guitar tone, simple and effective drums, and the oooo and ahhh sort of vocal dissonance that so many of you listeners out there have grown to love since its popular re-emergence in the early 2000s. It is a great opener that will get your attention. The second track, 'River raw', does not stray far from the jangle and dance in the first track - the entire fucking EP follows suit. Fireworx dips its toes in a lot of seemingly 1950s inspired sort of western rock and roll on the berge of psychedelic breakthrough. And for the sake of not getting all meta with this and that - these are some good psychedelic garage tunes that are all under 2:30. Who can get enough of those short punch-you-in-the-mouth-songs?

You can snag the 7'' from Slovenly for 5.25 (I donated more than that - I just thought I would let you all know that because I take philanthropy lessons from Bono). Only con to ordering from Slovenly would be the occasional e-mail that I choose not to read and then have to take time to delete. Listen. Buy. Enjoy.

sultanbathery@gmail.com
sultanbathery.bandcamp.com/
facebook.com/sultanbathery
slovenly.bandcamp.com/

UH BONES - S/T

Although not the freshest piece in their arsenal, let's take a listen to the self-titled four track release by Uh Bones. This little goodie came out a bit over a year after their debut on facebook in 2011 (which, as you know, marks the birth of a band - that and the earliest release date on bandcamp). This three piece is currently rocking in the Chicago area and working on an LP to be released in the near future - duh. We might as well dive right on in with track number one, 'Amess'; if you carry any garage or psychedelic (god forbid psychedelic-garage) sensibilities you will immediately see the credibility of this band's sound. The song is an instant winner with repetitive high-mid guitar riffs and a low pulse'd bass line. The songs continue to follow suit with tight grooves wrapped around lazy and genuine vocals. If you are looking for something that takes root in yesterday (maybe today's yesterday or maybe 50-years-ago's yesterday) while still playing a part in our post-music era then look no further - it's right here. Even though we may not see Uh Bones putting out chart-topping-billboard-success-singles, the band knows what it is doing, how it wants to do it, and they sound great doing it.

I'll also put up this video the band has of a newer song of theirs - 'Drink to Sleep.' As the title suggests, the song is a bit dreamy and will get you in the mood to take off your socks, pour a drink, grab a woman, and dance on the kitchen floor smoking a filterless cigarette and waiting for the baby-making to happen.

The band is good, so if you like that 60s influenced blues-born garage noise then take a listen and maybe spend four bucks for four songs.






uh.bones@gmail.com
uhbones.com
uhbones.bandcamp.com

BAD INDIANS - NOT HAVING ANY FUN

Michigan's 4-piece, BAD INDIANS, put out another cassette earlier this summer, NOT HAVING ANY FUN. If you don't remember who they are, check out their other cassette HERE. This release is no less spectacular than anything this band has put out to date. Their ability to create great garage/psych rock and roll is consistent; they fail to disappoint. NOT HAVING ANY FUN is full of twists and shouts that will take you to an era when garage rock was it - one right after the other. If you ever find yourself at a BAD INDIANS show and you don't leave sweaty,  tired, and...let's throw in..smelling like beer, then you obviously have done something wrong. It's an awesome feel for the dwindling second half of the summer. If you have the cash, it's suggested that you buy the cassette, if you don't then you should just listen to this over and over because it'll make the band feel warmer inside...right there...yep...On another note, there is a FREE DOWNLOAD!

  

[DOWNLOAD]
BAADINDIANS@gmail.com
http://badindians.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BAD-INDIANS/142006495812733

COSMONAUTS - BAD AFRO RECORDS 7"

Despite how COSMONAUTS are my (the first time I have made this blog personal) favourite band, I have yet to support you - the reader and listener - with any write-ups or leaks. Well, we aren't going to get into the leak factory just yet, because today is about a new release these guys are comin' out with under BAD AFRO. The title of the 7'' is still on the drawing board, but the tunes are available now! I saw this band of O.C boys come through my art-free and clean downtown just last summer - shortly after the release of their s/t cassette - and if i would have worn socks they would have been blown off.  After a stellar debut and an equally awesome follow-up, these gents are at it again! Side one of this little gem contains in its little grooves, Emerald Green. It starts off with a great little surf lick and then is quickly accompanied by the remaining members of the band to create an intro that builds great anticipation for a chilling and stomping anthem filled with a moving melody supported by strong back bones (the bass and drums, in case you didn't know) and haunted by, now familiar, distant reverb drown'd vocals.  The second track, Motorcyle One, is a great b-side. It compliments Emerald Green in the best fashion. Again, we the audio-audience will find our brains overloaded with fantastic psych/punk goodness. their song writing ability isn't that bad either. Composing songs for full bands isn't all that easy, and to create consistent sound within each album isn't any easier. Cosmonauts are making great progress in their musical careers, and hopefully we can all get the pleasure of seeing them in an art space or venue soon. For now, check out their newly acquired bandcamp (awesome points right there) and listen to their great music. Though, you won't find their full s/t up there...oh well. LISTEN TO THEM!..we'll get a leak later.

cosmonautstheband@gmail.com
http://cosmonautstheband.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/cosmonautstheband
http://www.myspace.com/cosmonautstheband

THE SINBUSTERS - SECOND COMING

The Sinbusters have been up here before, and we wanted to get you a listen to their second full length before it went on sale, but that didn't happen....oh well...forgetful minds. Well, these kids (who are like the cousins twice removed of the children that Thee Oh Sees and The Stooges had, despite the fact they are from different eras, age is justa numba babeh) are back with a most excellent sequel to their hard hitting, loud, and upbeat garage/punk. Remember how your grandmother listened to Buddy Holly? Take that and speed 'er up by a handful of BPMs, put in some feedback, drown those lyrics and throw 'em in the background, get your feet moving, and you got The Sinbusters.  Here's another perk to this release, all songs are under 2:15; perfect for a lively crowd with short attention spans and bursts of energy to expel. Though you aren't going to get this one for free, 4.99 is not a bad price for raw rock and roll energy! Plus these guys tour often; no reason not to support their efforts. BUY IT! LOOK FOR A LEAK! GET IT!

thesinbusters@gmail.com
http://thesinbusters.bandcamp.com

http://www.myspace.com/thesinbusters

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sinbusters/159998169137?sk=wall#!/pages/The-Sinbusters/159998169137?sk=info

KRANG - SPEED OF TENT 7''

This may be a second too late, but here is a little something beautiful for your ears to munch on. Krang, a band with some guys from Canada (there's some good shit comin' from our friendly Northern neighbours), groove around on some spacey, transcendental, psych waves from a reality beyond your own. This psych four-some recently put out their first vinyl release on Mammoth Cave earlier this year - a cute little 7'' titled Speed of Tent. The record's first track, Speed of Tent, is a heavy droning force with fuzzed out bass, periodical screeching guitar handy work, and drowned vocals; it's like lighting up and dreaming underwater - a nice throwback without the circle of douche bags kicking around their boyfriend's scrotum filled with sand. The second track, Spirit Animal, begins with some clean guitar and tambourine making for a lighter introduction than the previous. Though, don't let that fool you into believing it's a light song because it eventually turns into a reel of voices of all the influential people in your life reverberating over the top of some waaaaah'd out riffs that are reminiscent of all the dark psych stoner bands you could ever think of.Check out Mammoth Cave  for this 7'', it is a must! And because there isn't an accessible leak.....let's make one! Remember, free music is great, but supporting the artists you dig is even greater. BUY IT.

[DOWNLOAD]
krangalang@gmail.com
http://krangalang.blogspot.com/
http://krangalang.bandcamp.com/album/speed-of-tent
http://mammothcave.tumblr.com/

THE MIGS - EVERYBODY'S LURKIN' FOR THE WEEKEND

This release has been sitting on the desktop for ages, and it deserbes to hace been shown much earlier. The Migs are simply fantastic. They shobe a nice little bonus track in the beginning of the album, which would be so much more awesome if it weren't a cover, but forgive them of this small crime. Everybody's Lurkin' for the Weekend, starts with a cute little grammar lesson sample that leads into an stellar wolf howlin' up beat surf track that is suitable for any party. Though, that's just the start. If wolf mask got you, then what is to follow will make your heart pitter patter all morning and make you want to be touched wrong by the right person - The Migs are just downright sexy; loose and structured, a whispering howl, a static dream. Daydream to these fine tunes...and stare at the album art....it'll move!

http://themigs.bandcamp.com/

DPT-001 BLEACHEDBLONDE - S/T

DPT-001  BLEACHEDBLONDE - S/T

BLEACHEDBLONDE, a three-piece from Colorado who are completely apathetic to accessibility, have put together a handful of noisy garage/psych/drone tracks and they are now available for you in a digital and physical format - physical release date is set for 05/01/11. Recorded in a sound-proofed garage and on a good ol' TASCAM, these three gentleman are a dark and haunting explosive and droning energy of peaked-out hi-end pulsing guitar riffs, lo-end fuzzed out bone shaking bass, and dampened nihilistic pounding drum rhythms. The lo-fi quality, intense instrumentation, and the delayed and distorted vocals ooze puddles of a raw and trashy power. DIE POP TAPES' first cassette is either going to make your ears bleed or give you a boner (if you are lucky, both). BUY THE CASSETTE, DOWNLOAD THE TRACKS FOR FREE, AND TURN IT UP.

[DOWNLOAD]
BLEACHEDBLONDE@live.com
DIEPOPTAPES@live.com
http://bleachedblonde.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/BLEACHEDBLONDEBAND

RIVAL TRIBES

RIVAL TRIBES in 115 words or less:

Been listening to this band for a sec, but opted to not write about them on the account of the reoccurring native theme around here. RIVAL TRIBES, a three piece from 'Bermuda' (says the MySpace) are, in laymen's terms, pretty awesome. These gents combine elements of psych, math rock, and punk to form a loud orchestrated mess of goodness. Their little 6 song demo (downloaded as EP) is most definitely worth the name-your-price price, but don't be stingy. And no, they are not like Animal Collective or MGMT - fuck those bands in the ass. MTV does not dictate who owns 'sound'. Listen to and enjoy their up and down 6 track treble-y journey.



PS Check out the youtube video,  it actually looks like they put on a good show! Finally!

http://rivaltribes.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rival-Tribes/106743032729730
http://www.myspace.com/ribaltrives

BIRDS OF MAYA

Birds of Maya in 102 words or less:

This loud psych/fuzz jam three piece from The City of Brotherly Love have three vinyl release with Holy Mountain. One of which was a three song double LP. And, apparently their release Volume One is really 'important' to the 'rock history' of Philadelphia .These gentleman like to drone out and get stoney, that's for sure. If the stone and drone don't draw you in, then the quality surely will. Throwing expensive microphones and metronome tracked recording rooms out the window, these three gentleman (and a fourth on last summer's tour) show some real grit and energy through their dirty noisy recordings. If you like to bleed from the ears, so many of us do, then do not turn it down and do not stop listening. The wonderful world of the internet  has also been gracious enough to lend you some videos and a FREE download.










(DOWNLOAD)










birdsofmaya@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/birdsofmaya
http://www.holymountain.com/artists/birds-maya/

THE DRUG PURSE

The Drug Purse; definitely on drugs. This post-mod/art/psych four piece from Tacoma seize your mind and twist your gray matter onto a white paper stick and then serve you to children to be puked up later because the tilt-a-whirl was just too much whirl. These boys put together some grooving tunes that are definitely burn worthy - a blend of blues, garage and droney psych. Though it has been a few years since their first release, The Drug Purse EP, the band is still out and about accomplishing some thing; in fact, they made public a couple songs that will be put out on Wack Slacks Tapes. The site also says it's coming out soon. It's been about 6 months since that news was put out. How soon is soon? And unlike some of the other youtube footage on the blog, this one proves to be evidence that some bands DO move a little bit while they are on stage, but not enough to distract you from the necessary? obscure clothes the front man wears. We are hear and listening, no need to throw a tantrum.





Sorry, there is no promotional leak for this band...yet. For now check out their MySpace, last.fm and youtube videos.







http://wackslacks.tumblr.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thedrugpurse
http://garagepunk.ning.com/profile/THEDRUGPURSE

NIGHT BEATS - H BOMB 7''

Saw this band was coming to a city nearby and if you happen to be in Boulder, CO this weekend, you should check out ASTROLAND on Saturday the 26th (Doing anything better on this Saturday night?) and let this band stroke your mind. Night Beats; from the pretentious and caffeinated Seattle, WA, have found a place here in this blog-- at the top of this page even. Scored their 7'' from a nifty little link (as should you, then you should buy the 7'') and though it's only four songs, duh...it's a 7'', it is definitely one to add to the collection.  H Bomb starts off with the title track and it's nearly perfect. To you, the audience who has yet to hear this band, beware; you may instantly have found your new favourite band. The first track displays what the rest of the others have--the perfect elements that you need for a spectacular psychedelic auditory experience: drenched vocals, a dripping reverb'd fuzz lead guitar, and moaning wails of a psychedelic dreamer. The only beef with this 7'', is that the third song They Came in Through the Window is remarkably similar to the title track, but don't hold it against them. This sort of thing is probably because they were looking for four of their best songs to showcase their talent, and two of the songs happen to be similar in song structure and progression, or maybe the the band is a one trick pony...with a pretty damn good trick.








(DOWNLOAD)






thenightbeats@gmail.com
http://www.myspace.com/thenightbeatswilleatyou
http://www.troubleinmindrecs.com/bands/nightbeats.html