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

GHOST WAVE - AGES

Ghost Wave, a four piece from Auckland, put out their debut full length - 'Ages' - in August of this year and you'd be lying to say it wasn't good. Depending on how hip you are you may or may not have heard of this one from the likes of Pitchfork and Vice - if you didn't then that is OK; you are not alone. Anyhow, these New Zealand musicians have been together for a few years and put together a self-titled EP (that you can find on their bandcamp) and this LP of ten easy tracks driven by a psychedelia that can identify through the decades of its history. One particularly drawing element is the large pull from rock and roll from about twenty years ago - the biting alt grunge and post-punk vibes that sit inside the first notes of the album to the last. But it would be insulting to try to pin the sound to a certain feeling from a certain era as Ghost Wave is mixing their sound with many different bits and pieces of rock and roll. For me, the points of interest lay within tracks one, two, four, and six (maybe eight, too).....shit, just listen to the entire album and you'll find out what works and where. It's heady, it's punchy, it's droning, and it definitely has a fuzzy face.

Also, check out this little video if you want to know what they look like when they play 'Here She Comes' and then you should go ahead and buy it if you want. Go.

GhostWavy@gmail.com
http://ghostwave.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/ghostwave

DPT-002 ROYAL TALONS/BLIGHTER/BLEACHEDBLONDE TRIPLE SPLIT

So here is the moment some of you have been waiting for - The second DIE POP TAPES release! DPT-002 is a triple split cassette release with Colorado bands Royal Talons, Blighter, and BLEACHEDBLONDE. Royal Talons, featured here a handful of months ago, is a three-piece atmospheric sludge and doom band from Denver and their songs - nearly ten minutes a piece and the entire side A - are heavier than Rosie O'Donnell. They have put together some tunes to burn to, to drive to, and well...to fuck to. Seeing them live is also a great shoegazin' head-bangin' treat. Blighter, the first three tracks of side B, is from Colorado Springs, Colorado and this is their first time featured on DIE POP. A veteran presence in the Springs' scene, Blighter has finally pulled together some cash, popped in a studio, and released some decently recorded versions of a handful of their songs. Their tracks are a bit doomy, a bit sludgy, a bit jammy, a bit stoney, and a bit crusty. If you are down for anything relating to that, then we are sure that you will find Blighter's contribution to this split most excellent. Pulling the last leg of the track is the label's first band to release, BLEACHEDBLONDE. Despite the band's apathetic, loud, and trashy value of their first cassette, BLEACHEDBLONDE's  three tracks on this particular cassette lack a bit of luster. Though the bass lines are thick, the guitar riffs moving, and vocals full of hypnotic and absorbing noise, the drums are pushed back to a nearly inaudible volume and are very rudimentary. BLEACHEDBLONDE and DIE POP also have plans of a X-MAS split release with another Colorado Springs garage troupe, Cat Color - so if these tunes aren't hooking you, then wait for their redemption and new sound coming out in December. For all your true musos out there, if it not for BLEACHEDBLONDE, then get this one for Royal Talons and Blighter. It's a run of 150 and 6 USD; that includes international shipping! Use the bandcamp music player (located amongst these words) or our store to order. And for all you free loaders, did we mention there is a free download? Because there is.

 

[DOWNLOAD]
DIEPOPTAPES@live.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Talons/208955969117977
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Blighter/163226620397135?sk=info

http://www.facebook.com/BLEACHEDBLONDEBAND

(ALL PRE-ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER)

BANG! BANG! ROCK 'N ROLL - DO IT!

Despite the Robert Downey Jr. band name...or maybe the Art Brut song title, or the We Are Scientists song title, BANG! BANG! is pretty rockin'. Straight from Sydney, their first release, DO IT! was just put out a handful of months ago, a perfect time for these party punkers. Their first track is a pretty sensible radio-rocker that'll get your feet stompin'...in fact, their entire album should get your feet moving. It also comes apparent that there are two 6 string'd guitars in this band....no bass! Having a front-woman, you can definitely hear some Sonic Youth and (unfortunately) Yeah Yeah Yeahs influence in the mix, and it's trashy girl grunge done very well. The lyrics and riffs are all catchy as fuck- complaining about social inequalities for the counter(sub)-cultured, reveling in heavy testaments of the dedication to creating nightly intoxicated hazed out memories, bangin' beats of lost souls and post-punk glory, BANG! BANG! ROCK 'N ROLL is not a light listen and wholeheartedly deserves your undivided desire to swing, swagger, twist, lay in your own vomit, and of course forget it all and do it again with the small hope your brain will catch up with your experience. The album is up for a price to be determined by you, don't be stingy!

bbrrmanagement@gmail.com

http://bangbangrocknroll.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bang-Bang-Rock-n-Roll/177532115607946?sk=info
http://www.myspace.com/bbrrmusic

THE PATTERNS - LIVE AT THE HYDEAWAY

The Patterns; a three piece from Edmonton, Alberta, have been around for a couple seconds, but only a couple. Initially, I thought to share their most recent 'studio' release with you, but instead we'll take a listen to their live performance at The Hydeaway, which the band apparently got 86'd from after their show (side note: both releases are equally noise driven and brash. Check out JUNGLE BEAT). The 11 tracks, not including the first few songs they played that night, are just a bit over 30 minutes and are pretty true to how the band sounds...it's fucking live...but it isn't a good lead as to why these boys were told 'Never play here again!' With a handful of their own songs, and covers (play your own damn songs!) The Patterns put on a good show; it was loud, abrasive, trashy, and in the grand spirit of ROCK AND ROLL. There is even a bit of footage of them at this show - one, a pretty alright take on The Gories' Thunderbird ESQ. Through this little cinematic history, you can also see that these guys move around well enough to get a crowd goin'....but where's the crowd? A small applause at the end let's you know this wasn't just a practice, but it seems as though Edmonton doesn't know how to party, or maybe The Patterns are a bunch of dicks and that's actually why they cannot play there again. In either case, blues influenced garage rock is definitely their cup of tea...they do it well. The album is up for your generous donations, and make one - the sound engineer didn't work for free. AND don't forget to check out their April 2011 release, JUNGLE BEATS - it's what initially got me on board!

http://www.myspace.com/thepatternsmusic1
http://thepatterns.bandcamp.com

MEGACHURCH

Megachurch, is a three piece (two bass...something I have always wanted to do) outfit from Cleveland, Ohio. Right now, these dudes have three albums out - two of which are excellent examples of the satirical and awesome approach to music Megachurch has. If you are reading this before you listen, then let me tell you what these guys are about. Of course, with two bass players one can assume that it's going to be heavy, sludgey, and full of foot stompin breakdowns. Though, these boys don't sing - instead they cut, paste, speed up, slow down, and sample sermons from this nation's greates mega-churches (living in Colorado Springs, a town with one of the most famous mega-churches, I understand the irony witty approach and message the band is sending across). Each song, dripping with the sermon's of god's soldiers, is eerie, creepy, and as a live performance is tight knit - it would sure be a shit show if they were loose and sloppy; it just wouldn't match up with the word of god spewing at their audience. Check out their first album on bandcamp if you are interested in hearing how this started, check out their second album on bandcamp if you are one of those 8bit videogame fans (the second album is the first remixed to 8bit), and check out the third if you are interested in how they could top the first. Listen to this fantastic instrumental grooving stoner rock and roll and buy some vinyl!

megachurchband@gmail.com
http://megachurch.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/megachurch

THE SPYRALS - SUNFLOWER MICROPHONE 7''

The Spyrals are a talented garage/psych three piece from San Fransisco, California. As of tomorrow, November the 22nd, you will all be able to purchase their latest 7'' - Sunflower Microphone. The first track, also the title track, captures a great spirit of psychedelia and transports the audience to a trip on a desert wasteland, searching for any sign of life while kaleidoscope visions of the sky cause confusion and wonderment. It's damn easy to find yourself rolling your shoulders and hips to this surf influenced tune. The song is a great treat, and if you like it then please check out Night Beats or Bad Indians. The second song on this newly released 7'' is titled Long Road Out - it's damn easy to find yourself rolling your shoulders and hips to this five minute twangy and punchy story. Some may find it a bit jammy , though after a quick puff puff pass and the extended guitar lead turns into a small journey on a river made of goldfish, all reflecting the rays of the sun. If 60s inspired rock/psychedelic with a twist of surfin' blues is your thing, spend a mere six bucks and get this 7''. The first 100 copies are on yellow vinyl. Open your ears!

thespyrals@gmail.com

http://thespyrals.com

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spyrals/34763810277

http://thespyrals.bandcamp.com



TEENAGERS - DEMO

Recently got an e-mail from this new two-piece from Warsaw, Poland and they are pretty rad. There isn't much information on these kiddos, besides their location and that we've got Karol on drums and Daria on vocals 'n' guitar. However, if you listened to SNEAKPEEK (I know a good handful of you have) then you will have a good idea what these cats are pumpin'...some good ol' catchy girl grunge. There are only two songs up at the moment, but when they get things on cassette (which they are very soon!) then you, the great audience you are, will get 5 whole songs of minimalistic grunge-ness to drive around to, or maybe to sleep to, or maybe just some party tunes? Right now these tracks aren't fer free...but I may just change that in the future. Give them a listen!

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

THE FAULTS - THE FAULTS EP

It's definitely been a few seconds since a post, and despite all the handful of great tunes waiting in the inbox, here is The Faults. A two piece from Sydney (not to be confused with The Faults of the UK), these gents melt low-end fuzz'd out groobin' guitar riffs with abrasive vocals and drums to create a lovely heavily 60s blues/garage influenced sound. Since this is your second stop after *cough* pitchfork *cough* let's say they these guys are like The Black Keys (they have a few new songs out) except, uh, better! No traditional boring sultry blues lyrics or presentation here - it's got a hell of a lot more character. And you won't find any fuzz, delay, or reverb on this front man's pipes either! The EP starts of with a great tune (that some of you saw on their digital single release Quarter/Lucy) Quarter. It does nothing shy of show off their ability to get body parts shaking and twistin'. It's not a bad way to start off. Their second tune, Little Brother, slows down a bit from the previous, and strikes a little harder at some heart strings; punching at your soul. The chord progression may be a bit on the...generic side, but when it comes to ripping out some heavy blues, it's not a surprise to find some recycled material here and there. The third track, Lucy (from the digital single), brings the audience in again for a rockin' tempo with a fantastic nostalgic garage feel. The last track, much like the second, slows things down a bit. Though, unlike the second track it picks up momentarily for a bit of lyrical/emotional disarray...and fades out at 4+ minutes. All in all, this one should be a new EP in your collection, and guess what! It's FREE! So it can be a new one in your collection! Find yourself in Sydney...go watch 'em perform! Otherwise, feel free to give these hard working men a few of YOUR hard earn dollars. GET IT!

 

band@thefaults.com.au
http://thefaults.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/thefaults

PUBLIC DIMS - VENT SOMEWHERE ELSE

Public Dims, a male 'n' female duo in crime from San Juan Capistrano, have a great psychedelic/western twang and swing about themselves and recently played with White Mystery (who I know you read about just the other while ago) at one of your favourite record stores. Their simple rhythms, both drum and treble'd guitar, along with lazy woe-some vocals make for some catchy garage rock. Call it surfy, call it bluesy, call it country, call it what you will - this EP captures an essence of rock and roll...though some of you will be looking for that important driving low end; the last piece to make a power trio. If you need a super catchy tune to get you started, check out their fan-favourite, Lorimer - but stay away from Head Cold Letters - it unfortunately distracts from the gut wrenching melancholy psychedelia through out the rest of this release. But you should definitely take a listen to the entire album. It's not gonna hurt to take less than half an hour out of your day. These cats are working on a new tape out and an October tour, hopefully somewhere near you. If not, then watch the music video, download this one for FREE, and when that tape surfaces BUY IT.

publicdims@gmail.com

http://publicdims.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Public-Dims/151278131607248

THE SUPER VACATIONS / THE CEILING STARES 7''

Got word of this awesome 7'' from Jason at 7inches, a real muso from Brooklyn, NY. Jason runs that rad blog and is starting his own label - Sweaters and Pearls. As I understand it's going to primarily pump out 7'' goodies for your ears and your collections. His first release ( a collaborative effort with Velocity of Sound ) is a stellar split featuring The Super Vacations and The Ceiling Stares. The Super Vacations unfortunately don't have a bandcamp, they still live in the MySpace world. But you can check out their tumblr and find a handful of tracks that are streaming. Anyhow, these dudes rock it pretty well. Their first track on this split 7'' is titled Controller. It's a great combination of surf, rock 'n' roll, and grunge that all of those failed 90s bands wish they could have sounded like. Their second track, Hexing, is fantastic as well. It hits a little harder but has the same moving feel with pounding drums, and rippin' rhythm riffs, and string lickin' leads.

CONTROLLER


HEXING


The Ceiling Stares, are a group of 5 cool cats from Pittsburgh who generally bring grungey psychedelic tunes to the table. They are a clean and tight knit group of kids who will run circles around your band, unless you have been featured on this blog. They even have a bandcamp where you can check out their self-titled release where this song came from! Gotta love that! Their track on this 7'' is titled A Tunnel Through the Air. This song starts with a catchy lead riff that brings you, the listener, into their chanting grunge and rock and roll influenced sound; a great B-side to this 7'' that you WILL buy.

A TUNNEL THROUGH THE AIR



All in all, this release should put you back into the good ol' 90s and on the set of Pete and Pete dancing with Danny Tamberelli - forget the other Pete, he wasn't as precocious and wild; what a square. Need something to celebrate the end of a season and the beginning of a new? GET IT AT SWEATERS AND PEARLS! (he would like your monies so he can continue to bring us new releases - like his next one comin' out w/ FAT HISTORY MONTH!)


http://sweatersandpearls.com
http://www.velocityofsound.com/
http://theceilingstares.bandcamp.com
http://thesupervacations.tumblr.com/

WHITE MYSTERY - BLOOD AND VENOM

Here's some more garage/blues for ya! WHITE MYSTERY is a rockin' brother/sister duo from Chicago, Illinois - home of Bozo the Clown. They put out a mean and nasty full sound, despite their lack of any bass rhythm. This release, Blood and Venom (04/20/2011), is their second go and you can see why they were voted The Best New Band in Illinois by the Boston Phoenix. They're heavy, noisy, loud, and have a cassette (through Burger) release show tomorrow at Burger Records! If you are in the area, go and buy the cassette or their LP. If you aren't in the area, then you can surely click a few buttons here and there and make a cassette or LP appear at your door in just a few days. Check 'em out.

alex@whitemysteryband.com
http://www.whitemysteryband.com/
http://whitemystery.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/WhiteMysteryBand?sk=info

THE TRASH - GARAGE WOODS

The Trash is a rockin' four piece from Hamburg, DE. Their songs are giant tracks that showcase their rock and roll hearts. Full of angst and sorrow; yet upbeat and moving, The Trash will surprise you with their blues rock sound - and you thought the White Stripes rock? Slipping in elements of punk and garage these gents have shown their understanding of alcohol, cigarettes, black leather, dark shades, and unkempt hair. Broken Glas Records, of the same town, put out their tunes, so check that out as well. These 5 short and sweet tracks came out just a few months ago and the band has a couple new members, so we may be in for something new soon - keep your eyes peeled and DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE.

the.trash@hotmail.de
http://www.thetrash.de/
http://thetrash.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/trashtrash
http://www.facebook.com/broken.glas.records?sk=info

NOHOPEKIDS - NOHOPEKIDS EP

Just found NOHOPEKIDS through...let's say a mutual musical taste. These three gentlemen, from Hungary, have brought some gnarly noisy surfin' 'tude to the wonderful world of the internet. Releasing bits and pieces since December 2010 through DIY bedroom recordings, they now have an EP - NOHOPEKIDS EP- and a nice collection for your listening pleasure. This release begins with a nice lil' diddy Lone Surfer pt. 1. It's an instrumental track and if you're paying any attention you'll notice this band is two guitars and a drummer - no bass. Track number two, Fuzzin' Around, also brings you into a great fuzz'd out surf daze. With their two guitar style, and heavy reverb/strong snare drumming, it's easy to see some J&MC or Woven Bones influence. The two tracks following are real nice foot stompers that'll get those toes a movin'. Did we forget to mention that these cats are also singing in english? Track number 5, Coward Cowboy ft Piresian Beach, has got to be the crowd favourite - it's a groovy early blues garage psychedelic tune that slows down the EP right in the middle...just so they can pick it back up with a distorted riff heavy instrumental that has a killer title - Fuzzocalypse vs. Mechagodzilla. And as planned?, the album does a bit of a switch-eroo and the mood follows in reverse and the EP ends with Lone Surfer pt 2. It's great to see the garage spirit alive and still panning across the world - we've seen in in Central and South America, and  the UK...now Hungary! Follow that link down there on the bottom of the post and download this brilliant garage/party punk/surf album for FREE!

After, this little write up was posted, we were informed that NOHOPEKIDS is just one kids doin' some sweet garage. And that picture down there is not band mates, but just good buds. In any case, enjoy the tunes!

[DOWNLOAD]
http://nohopekidzzz.tumblr.com/
http://nohopekids.bandcamp.com/

BEACH BABES - THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

Here's another BEACH BABE band. Though, this time around it's just BEACH BABES (the previous band probably got pissed that this name was taken) and they aren't your typical surf tunes. This three piece, from  Asheville, NC are loud and heavy enough to pierce an eardrum. BEACH BABES puts down some hardcore/grind noise and not one song reaches over two and a half minutes. There nine-track release, titled The Great Wall of China, is filled with screeches, yells, shouts, transitional songs, and the occasional sample; making for an interesting audio experience. Beware, this is not a release for the easy-listener. Download The Great Wall of China for the wonderful price of NAME YOUR PRICE. If you're kind, leave 'em a few dollars - writing and recording music is not free.

http://beachbabes.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beach-Babes/197849726917517

BABES ON THE BEACH - BABES ON THE BEACH

Despite how the whole beach party theme is DEAD, there are a number of beach bands still makin' tunes. This band, BABES ON THE BEACH, howber, is better than your beach band. BABES ON THE BEACH, a retired four piece from Canada (Is it true that the Canadian scene is better than ours? Yes, it is true.) whip out some groobing sing-a-long surf influenced punk/rock that will sure remind you of some of the work your local punk band does, or a little bit of what the Black Lips or No Bunny does...or rather, a lot of the stuff put out by the stellar Burger Records. So, for some rad blues/surf/party punk download this s/t? release by BABES ON THE BEACH. And if the beach thing is just too dead for you, then pretend you are being ironic, you dick! DOWNLOAD IT FO' FREE!!!!!!!!!!







http://babesonthebeach.bandcamp.com/

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

HIGH ARCTIC - MAN HAIR

With some howls and screeches, High Arctic makes there way to the blog. This three, sometimes four, piece from Canada slings around some psychedelic, artsy, chunky, slow, and heavy tracks. Their latest release, Man Hair, is pretty damn gnarly. The first handful of tracks are like a heavy rockabilly version of Kinski - a bit jammy with some stoner vocals - that might remind you of Isaac Brock - matched with wild noisy fuzz'd out guitar work (Our front-man, much like the lead for BLEACHEDBLONDE seems to be the bands noise machine; a great role in any band), and the occasional math-rock breakdown. The second half of the Man Hair falls a bit more into the ambient/noisy/experimental realm, has a cameo by an un-named clarinet, and ends with some droning acoustic work that will probably put you into some sort of trance, making you forget you were listening to music at all. They have a myspace, a facebook, a live video, and of course a bandcamp. Check them out on your favorite social network, look for them at an art space near you, and download their music....that's right...FOR FREE!

 

http://higharctic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/High-Arctic/113001955377695
http://www.myspace.com/thehigharctic