MINE HOST

MINEHOST HAS MOVED

2011-02-04T17:44:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

You can now find MineHost continued on

http://minehost.tumblr.com

Re-designed and re-thought.

Enjoy ;)

The Pineapple Thief - Someone Here is Missing

2010-06-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

2010. England

Progressive Rock/Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/thepineapplethief

Keywords: One of the best modern Prog Rock bands is back. So We Row one of the most amazing tracks of the year.

Tracklist:

"Nothing At Best" *****
"Wake Up The Dead" ****
"The State We’re In"
"Preparation For Meltdown"
"Barely Breathing"
"Show A Little Love" ****
"Someone Here Is Missing"
"3000 Days"
"So We Row" *****

Spotify

Link

As Tall As Lions - Into the Flood EP

2010-06-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

2007. USA

Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/astallaslions

Keywords: Very melodic, intense, rythmic, creative, great sounding.

Tracklist:

"505" - 2:08 ****
"Into the Flood" - 4:15 *****
"We're the Ones That Keep You Warm at Night" - 2:54
"Breakers" - 3:49 ****
"Blacked Out" - 3:55

Spotify

Link

This Will Destroy You - Young Mountain

2010-05-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

2005. USA

Instrumental Post-Rock

http://www.myspace.com/thiswilldestroyyou

Keywords: Atmospheric, organic, peaceful, relaxing, time pausing, beautiful Post-Rock.

Tracklist:

"Quiet" – 4:53
"The World Is Our ___" – 7:12
"I Believe in Your Victory" – 6:32
"Grandfather Clock" – 2:37
"Happiness: We're All in It Together" – 8:34
"There Are Some Remedies Worse Than the Disease" – 6:18

Link

Hocus Pocus - 16 pièces

2010-05-20T14:02:00.000-07:00

2010. France

Hip-Hop/Jazz

http://www.myspace.com/hocuspocushiphop

Keywords: Unique combination of quality Hip Hop and jazz, chilled, smooth, classy. Jazzy Hip-Hop for the body and the soul.

Tracklist:

01. Beautiful Losers feat. Alice Russel *****

02. 25/06 *****

03. A Mi Chemin feat. Akhenaton & Ben L’Oncle Soul

04. Putain De Mélodie

05. Papa?

06. Pièce N°6 (Dj Atom)

07. Signes Des Temps feat. Mr J. & Stro The 89th Key

08. Equilibre feat. Oxmo Puccino

09. Marc feat. Gwen Delabar ****

10. Pièce N°10 (Dj Pfel)

11. I Wanna Know feat. Stro The 89th Key ****

12. WO:OO

13. Portrait

14. Pièce N° 14 (Dj Greem)

15. Le Majeur Qui Me Démange ****

16. 100 Grammes De Peur

Link

Soulive - Live In San Francisco

2010-05-18T01:45:00.000-07:00

2009. USA

Funk/Jazz/Soul

http://www.myspace.com/soulive

Keywords: Great live performance, funky and fresh music.

Tracklist:

   1. Up Right *****
   2. Backwards Jack
   3. For Granted
   4. Too Much ****
   5. Hat Trick
   6. PJ's
   7. Flurries
   8. The Swamp
   9. El Ron ****

Spotify

Link (go to comments)

MINEHOST Half Anniversary - NEW SPOTIFY LIST!!

2010-05-09T04:40:00.000-07:00

Hey all MineHost followers,

tomorrow MineHost will celebrate it's half anniversary and to do so we have just released our own Spotify list featuring all the albums we have covered so far.

We thought it would be a nice idea to have all of em together and now it's up for all of you spotify users!

Just click on subscribe and we'll keep uploading stuff!

Cheers and Thanks for all the support so far!

Enjoy :)

MNHST

David Holmes - Ocean's Twelve OST

2010-05-08T05:28:00.000-07:00

2004. Ireland

Electronic/Funk/Soundtrack

http://www.myspace.com/davidholmesofficial

Keywords: Funky, entertaining, cool and intriguing music, to enjoy and chill to. 70's-revival vibe, seen the movie feels just Ocean's (believe me no other word better).

Tracklist:

L'Appuntamento-Gianni Ferrio
£165 Million + Interest / The Round Up-David Holmes ****
L.S.D. Party-Roland Vincent ****
Lifting The Building-David Holmes ****
10.35 / Turn Off Camarra 3-David Holmes
Crepuscolo Sul Mare -Piero Umilani *****
What R We Stealing-David Holmes
Faust 72-Dynastie Crisis
Stealing The Stock / Le Renard De Nuit-David Holmes
29-7-04 The Day Of-David Holmes
Lazy 9-Yellow Hammer *****
Explosive Corrosive Joseph-John Schroder Orchestra
Yen On A Carousel-David Holmes
The Real Story-David Holmes
Ascension To Virginity-Grusin Orchestra
Three 8 Bar Drum Loops-David Holmes [Hidden Track]

Spotify

Link (torrent)

Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms

2010-05-02T15:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks E.Burgos!!

2009. Canada

Indie/Alternative

http://www.myspace.com/patrickwatson

Keywords: Incredibly variated and dynamic songwriting from classical to folk compositions, unique and special sound, inventive and ingenious recording, specially percussion tracks; plain great quality music.

*Notable to say, Patrick Watson collaborated in the fantastic last Cinematic Orchestra album Ma Fleur

Tracklist:

1. Firewood
2. Tracy's Waters ****
3. Beijing*****
4. Wooden Arms ****
5. Hommage ****
6. Traveling Salesman
7. Big Bird in a Small Cage ****
8. Down at the Beach
9. Man Like You
10. Where The Wild Things Are
11. Machinery of the Heavens

Spotify

Pat Metheny Group - Speaking of Now

2010-04-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

2002. USA

Fusion/Jazz

http://www.myspace.com/patmethenygroup

Keywords: Nice and variated Fusion Jazz, melodic, dynamic and elegant, chilled and uplifting, stunning musicians.

Tracklist:

"As It Is" (Metheny/Mays) – 7:40 *****
"Proof" (Metheny/Mays) – 10:13
"Another Life" (Metheny) – 7:08 ****
"The Gathering Sky" (Metheny/Mays) – 9:22
"You" (Metheny) – 8:24
"On Her Way" (Metheny/Mays) – 6:04 ****
"A Place In The World" (Metheny/Mays) – 9:52
"Afternoon" (Metheny) – 4:43
"Wherever You Go" (Metheny/Mays) – 8:04

Spotify

Link

Maybeshewill - Not For Want Of Trying

2010-04-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks Fran Sunday!!

2008. England

Post-Rock/Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/maybeshewont

Keywords: Melodic, very dynamic, direct and creative post-rock. Electronic and metal enhanced.

Tracklist:

01. Ixnay On The Autoplay ****
02. Seraphim & Cherubim
03. The Paris Hilton Sex Tape
04. I'm In Awe Amadeus ****
05. We Called For An Ambulance But A Fire Engine Came
06. Heartflusters
07. C.N.T.R.C.K.T
08. He Films The Clouds Pt. 2 *****
09. Not For Want Of Trying *****

10. Takotsubo ****

Spotify

Link

Bonobo - Black Sands

2010-04-06T09:21:00.000-07:00

2010. England

Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/sibonobo

Keywords: Stunning, elegant, organic electronic music; gorgeous production, tribal and sometimes folkloric, always innovative Bonobo.

Tracklist:

"Prelude" – 1:18
"Kiara" – 3:50 ****
"Kong" – 3:58
"Eyesdown (Featuring Andreya Triana)" – 5:26 *****
"El Toro" – 3:44 ****
"We Could Forever" – 4:20
"1009" – 4:30
"All in Forms" – 4:52
"The Keeper (Featuring Andreya Triana)" – 4:49
"Stay The Same (Featuring Andreya Triana)" – 4:45
"Animals" – 6:45
"Black Sands" – 6:49 *****

Spotify

The Electric Soft Parade - American Adventure

2010-03-29T06:59:00.000-07:00

2003. England

Indie/Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/electricsoftparade

Keywords: Great composing and sense of melody, psychedelic and entertaining, british sound.

Tracklist:

"Things I've Done Before" (A. White) – 2:55
"Bruxellisation" – 3:28
"Lights Out" – 2:40
"The Wrongest Thing in Town" – 5:13 ****
"Lose Yr Frown" (A. White) – 2:55
"The American Adventure" (T. White) – 6:59
"Chaos" (T. White) – 4:42 *****
"Headacheville" – 4:01 ****
"Existing" (T. White) – 3:27

Spotify

Link

The Cooper Temple Clause - Kick Up The Fire, And Let The Flames Break Loose

2010-03-11T07:28:00.000-08:00

2003. England

Alternative Rock/Indie/Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/thecoopertempleclause

Keywords: Energic and diverse Alt Rock, psychedelic, heterogeneous.

Tracklist:

"The Same Mistakes" - 4:52
"Promises, Promises" - 3:26 ****
"New Toys" - 5:26 ****
"Talking to a Brick Wall" - 5:59 *****
"Into My Arms" - 6:12
"Blind Pilots" 4:01 *****
"A.I.M." - 4:58
"Music Box" - 6:28
"In Your Prime" - 2:14
"Written Apology" - 10:10 ****

Spotify

Link

Aim - Flight 602

2010-03-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

2006. England

Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/aimflight602

Keywords: Positive and uplifting, chilled, painkilling, simple awesome melody.

Tracklist:

"Intro No. 3"
"Walking Home Through The Park" *****
"Northwest" ****
"Puget Sound"
"Pier 57"
"Smile"
"Landlord"
"Aberdeen"
"Birchwood"
"Flight 602" ****
"Interview" ****
"It's Later Than You Think"

Spotify

Link

Spock's Beard - V

2010-03-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

2000. USA

Progressive Rock

http://www.myspace.com/spocksbeard

Keywords: Melodic, elaborate, one of the greatest pure prog rock bands nowadays.

Tracklist:

"At the End of the Day" – 16:28
"Revelation" – 6:05
"Thoughts (Part II)" – 4:39
"All On A Sunday" – 4:04
"Goodbye to Yesterday" – 4:39
"The Great Nothing" – 27:02
- I. From Nowhere
- II. One Note
- III. Come Up Breathing
- IV. Submerged
- V. Missed Your Calling
- VI. The Great Nothing
Link

The Reign Of Kindo - Rythm Chord & Melody

2010-02-15T12:30:00.000-08:00

2008. USA

Jazz/Alternative Rock/Pop

http://www.myspace.com/thereignofkindo

Keywords: Original and jazzy Pop, very melodic, easy listen, great drumwork.

Tracklist:

1. The Moments in Between ( 4:56) *****
2. Breathe Again ( 4:36)
3. Great Blue Sea ( 5:03) ****
4. Let it Go ( 5:13)
5. Nice to Meet You ( 3:34)
6. Till We Make Our Ascent ( 5:31) ****
7. Something in the Way That You Are ( 4:08)
8. Rhythm Chord & Melody ( 6:03)
9. I Hear That Music Play ( 5:48)
10. The Mystery of Our Day ( 5:29) ****
11. Morning Cloud ( 3:25)
12. Hold Out ( 4:37)

Spotify

Link

Paco De Lucia, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin - The Guitar Trio

2010-02-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

1996. Spain/USA/England

Jazz/Flamenco/Fusion

Lastfm

Keywords: Acoustic, inspiring, eclectic, virtuoso, chilled, great soloing.

Tracklist

"La Estiba" (Paco de Lucía) – 5:51
"Beyond the Mirage" (Al Di Meola) – 6:10 *****
"Midsummer Night" (John McLaughlin) – 4:36 *****
"Manha de Carnaval" (Luiz Bonfá/Antônio Maria) – 6:11
"Letter from India" (McLaughlin) – 3:54
"Espiritu" (Di Meola) – 5:30 ****
"Le Monastère dans les Montagnes" (McLaughlin) – 6:15 ****
"Azzura" (Di Meola) – 7:58
"Cardeosa" (de Lucía) – 6:36

Spotify

Link

Boards Of Canada - The Campfire Headphase

2010-02-08T02:50:00.000-08:00

2005. Scotland

Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/abeautifulplace

Keywords: Chilled, atmospheric, dreamy, warm, uplifting.

Tracklist

01. Into the Rainbow Vein 0:44
02. Chromakey Dreamcoat 5:47
03. Satellite Anthem Icarus 6:04
04. Peacock Tail 5:24
05. Dayvan Cowboy 5:00 *****
06. A Moment of Clarity 0:51
07. ‘84 Pontiac Dream 3:49
08. Sherbet Head 2:41
09. Oscar See Through Red Eye 5:08
10. Ataronchronon 1:14
11. Hey Saturday Sun 4:56
12. Constants Are Changing 1:42
13. Slow This Bird Down 6:09
14. Tears From the Compound Eye 4:03 *****
15. Farewell Fire 8:26 ****

Link

Oceansize - Music For Nurses EP

2010-02-02T03:11:00.000-08:00

2004. England

Progressive Rock/Post-Rock

http://www.myspace.com/oceansizeuk

Oceansize is a difficultly categorizable band from Manchester, England. With root in Rock and influence drawn from tons of other styles, they've managed to create a trademark sound that is as melodic and subtle as complex and apparently chaotic. And somehow they get everything together.

Music For Nurses EP is released a year after their first entire release Effloresce. After having heard it plenty of times it's five songs sound as one; and although being short, I can draw so much personality out of this fantastic EP. It starts aggresive, rapid and direct; it suddenly soothes and goes atmospheric and post-rock at it's best. It finally grows strong, melodic and epic. Stunning.

"One out of None" (5:40)
"Paper Champion" (5:45)
"Drag the 'Nal" (1:45)
"Dead Dogs an' All Sorts" (4:44)
"As The Smoke Clears" (7:05)

Spotify

Link

Jaga Jazzist - One Armed Bandit

2010-01-29T02:48:00.000-08:00

2010. Norway

Nu-Jazz/Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/jagajazzist

Introduction of the band

Jaga Jazzist is a norwegian multi-faceted and innovative jazz band, known to put together instruments and sounds from many different genres together into a modern jazz dressing with many other different flavours.

The band is also known for having a very flexible setup in which over more than 20 musicians have participated, incorporating and giving each effort a different feel.

So comes 2010 with the first of my own big yearly releases. One Armed Bandit is released no other than 5 years after the Post-rocky and less electronic What We Must. It comes with a bunch of rather long songs willing to continue breaking through in the guts of Jazz and music in general. Wide instrumentation as always, style variety and almost ambiguity (in a good sense) and of course zillions of things happening remain a constant of this fantastic and very unique band.

Spotlight:

Toccata: Polyrithmic and INTENSE.
220 V / Spektral

1. The Thing Introduces...
2. One-Armed Bandit
3. Banafleur Overalt
4. 220 V / Spektral
5. Toccata
6. Prognissekongen
7. Book of Glass
8. Music! Dance! Drama!
9. Touch of Evil

Spotify

Link

OSI - Blood

2010-01-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

2009. USA

Progressive Metal

http://www.myspace.com/osiband

OSI or Office of Strategic Influence is the superband led by Fates Warning guitarist Jim Matheos and ex Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore. The act is more of a side project where both get together and melt in the pot their style into the already trademark sound this band owns. Incisive Metal riffing and vast electronic backgrounds in an obscure atmosphere is what we hear from this band. The peculiar voice from Moore is also key to the group's original sound.

Blood is their 3rd full album. Difference with the previous is the presence of Porcupine Tree's Gavin Harrison, as in all the other Dream Theater's Mike Portnoy took the role. The song Stockholm also features Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt voice.

Spotlight:

Radiologue
Stockholm
Blood

1. The Escape Artist
2. Terminal
3. False Start
4. We Come Undone
5. Radiologue
6. Be The Hero
7. Microburst Alert
8. Stockholm
9. Blood

Link

Spotify

Bonobo - Days To Come

2010-01-18T04:19:00.000-08:00

2006. England

Electronic/Downtempo

http://www.myspace.com/sibonobo

Bonobo is a type of monkey and the stage name taken by British musician Simon Green. Specialist in the art of electronic crafts, he has developed his own style through the years by the pioneering usage of chilled beats and evolving loops. Many of his songs can arise by a very simple idea repeated over and over, but is the smart layering and musical drifting that makes it totally unique.

Days To Come its his 3rd studio release. As one of the main differences with the previous efforts it's the collaboration of singer Bajka, that gives the album a plus for it's special voice and outcome in Bonobo's music.

Spotlight:

Days To Come
Transmission 94
Recurring

"Intro" - 0:54
"Days To Come" (feat. Bajka) - 3:49
"Between The Lines" (feat. Bajka) - 4:36
"The Fever" - 4:21
"Ketto" - 5:06
"Nightlite" (feat. Bajka) - 5:09
"Transmission 94 (parts 1 & 2)" - 7:57
"On Your Marks" - 4:09
"If You Stayed Over" (feat. Fink) - 5:23
"Walk In The Sky" (feat. Bajka) - 4:34
"Recurring" - 5:06

Link

Spotify

Mr. Woodnote - Winter of Woodshed

2010-01-14T05:26:00.000-08:00

2009. England

http://www.myspace.com/mrwoodnote

Hip-Hop/Jazz

Mr Woodnote is the alias taken by this Australian musician from the very urban side of jazz. His music blends flawless sax tunes, hip-hop and beatbox rythms and some electronic arrangements. Throughout the CD he's with the collaboration from many other artists from the scene including DubFX.

I post up a video of both playing in the street. AMAZING to see these guys live performances, very recommended:

Spotlight:

Busted
Alt Etude
Woodshed

Link (Click on CreaFile or DepositFiles)

Incubus - Look Alive (CD)

2010-01-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

2007. USA

Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/incubus

Calabasas (California) based band Incubus is an Alternative Rock band, tag that fits quite adjusted to this acclaimed band that has built its own unique style over the years. It is also a band that has massively evolved since it's origins, where a rastafari Brandon Boyd would lead an Alternative Funk Metal band to nowadays, since the band has already matured and sealed their style.

As it is a fairly known band, i've been thinking of posting up this CD, which I think is one hidden gem of the California quintet. It's a bonus CD released with their recent DVD entitled the same. Some of the songs are used as a soundtrack to the latest, and some are live previously unreleased live performances.

It's an amazing CD where although it may have been composed in days shows quite fairly the versatility that this band carries besides being a commercial standard in Alternative Rock. Two things that I personally think are VERY hardly sustainable together and if so not for too long.

La La La Zoom Zoom Zoom is a Bossanova tune spiced up with some sexy accent Brazilian women speech. Beach Blanket Beatdown is a funky track that could've easily been in the Starsky n' Hutch soundtrack. Dance in a Triangle is a exclusively percussive song that dresses up the band in a tribal suit. Seriously, is like the band had decided to cover every single style they wanted to. And they do it extremely smooth.

Spotlight:

La La La Zoom Zoom Zoom
Midnight Swim
Beach Blanket Beatdown
Golden
Here In My Room (Instrumental)

Pathogens Born of Wormy Interludes - 11:19
La La La Zoom Zoom Zoom - 3:10
Get Your Pants and GO! - 3:00
Beach Blanket Beatdown - 3:13
Midnight Swim - 1:53
Soft Sculpture - 3:57
Cloudeater - 4:04
Dance in a Triangle - 4:19
Here in My Room - 3:43
Hugs Not Drugs - 0:39
Golden - 5:15
Quicksand - 3:23
A Kiss to Send Us Off - 4:33
Look Alive - 4:17
Nebula - 3:56
Rogues - 3:56
Punch Drunk - 6:06

Link

Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures

2010-01-04T06:41:00.000-08:00

2009. USA
Alternative Rock/Stoner Rock
http://www.myspace.com/crookedvultures

Born from actual rock masterminds Dave Grohl and Josh Homme and former LedZep bassist John Paul Jones, Them Crooked Vultures is the ultimate rock superband.

And so much geniosity put up into one single entity just cannot be resisted by any rockhead out there. Classic style, 3-man piece, crunchy guitars, bass and drums and not too much computer work; it's the claim of an old friend like Classic Rock still reinventing itself and pushing it's own boundaries. No excuses for this one.

Spotlight:

Mind Eraser, No Chaser
Bandoliers
Gunman

No One Loves Me & Neither Do I
Mind Eraser, No Chaser
New Fang
Dead End Friends
Elephants
Scumbag Blues
Bandoliers
Reptiles
Interlude With Ludes
Warsaw or The First Breath You Take After You Give Up
Caligulove
Gunman
Spinning In Daffodils

Link

Exivious - Exivious

2009-12-26T03:43:00.000-08:00

2009. USA/Netherlands
Progressive Metal/Fusion
http://www.myspace.com/exivious

Featuring musicians from both the best of past and present of Prog Metal (Cynic, Textures), Exivious is a superband playing Instrumental Prog Metal with a unique Fusion flavor on top of it. The project is quite recent and it comes to accomplish a vision that Cynic guitarist Tymon had several years ago in marrying these genres into one. Explosive, intense, mystic complex and precise it may be the door for a new genre in metal.

Spotlight:

Ripple Of A Tear
All That Surrounds
Embrace The Unknown

"Ripple of a Tear" 7:30
"Time and Its Changes" 4:39
"Asurim" 5:31
"All That Surrounds pt.1" 3:38
"Waves of Thought" 6:24
"The Path" 5:45
"All That Surrounds pt.2" 3:39
"Embrace the Unknown" 4:44
"An Elusive Need" 4:39

Link

Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring

2009-12-22T04:46:00.000-08:00

2007. England

Progressive Rock/Progressive Metal

http://www.myspace.com/porcupinetree

Porcupine Tree is the band led by mastermind musician and producer Steven Wilson, probably one of the most relevant figures in Prog Rock nowadays. The band is his foremost project out of the endless he's involved in.

Talking about this band is talking about the face of Progressive Rock today. Their evolution from psychedelic rock approach onto the lands of Prog Metal sets a direction that has been extremely fruitful for the English quartet, now on the pinnacle of their career. Notable to say is the presence in this band from In Absentia on of Gavin Harrison, probably one of the most interesting (not to say the most) and versatile drummers of our time. Ridiculously smooth at this thing.

Nil Recurring is a 4-song EP released right after their acclaimed Fear Of A Blank Planet and it's in all senses a continuation of this one in style, sound and thematic. A stunning 4-songs that not released would've been a total loss to music, and that after several listens feels as necessary as FOABP for it's phenomenal song-writting and habitual collossal production.What's actually strange to me is that songs of this quality actually ran out of the album being "not up to the standards"... well PT standard is indeed a H I G H standard.

Spotlight:

Nil Recurring
Normal: With excerpts from Sentimental, give's an extra sense to the fantastic melody.
Cheating The Polygraph
What Happens Now?: GAVIN HARRISON

Nil Recurring (6:08)
Normal (7:08)
Cheating The Polygraph (7:06)
What Happens Now? (8:24)

Link

Acoustic Alchemy - This Way

2009-12-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

2007. England

Smooth Jazz/Acoustic

http://www.myspace.com/acousticalchemy

Acoustic Alchemy is a band currently fronted by guitarist Greg Carmichael but through which long life have passed plenty of musicians. They base their sound in their original motto of a dance between Acoustic and Nylon guitars playing around jazzy smooth melodies.

This Way, released in 2007, is already their 16th release in their fruitful and respected career. It is an amazing album that preserves the classic band's approach but introducing many fresh electronic arrangements that gets this fantastic setup onto a whole new level. Uplifting, relaxing and with a better than ever production it is definitely an album to love.

Spotlight:

Who Knows
Out of Nowhere
This Way

Love is All There Is
Ernie
Who Knows
Slampop
Out of Nowhere
This Way
Tied Up with String
Only in my Dreams
Carlos The King
Egg
Now I'm on my Way

Link

MUTEMATH - MUTEMATH

2009-12-15T06:29:00.000-08:00

2006. USA

Indie/Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/mutemath

MUTEMATH is an Alternative Rock band from New Orleans, USA. Their sound consists in a variated Alternative Rock setup that draws a lot from Electronic and Indie music.

Their self-titled album is their first full length release. It's very melodic and song directed, nevertheless it contains some nice instrumental passages not very common in the genre.

Spotlight:

Chaos
Stare at the Sun
Obsolete

"Collapse" – 1:12
"Typical" – 4:12
"After We Have Left Our Homes" – 1:14
"Chaos" – 4:54
"Noticed" – 4:25
"Without It" – 4:57
"Polite" – 1:22
"Stare at the Sun" – 4:33
"Obsolete" – 4:32
"Break the Same" – 7:22
"You Are Mine" – 6:08
"Picture" – 5:21
"Stall Out" – 7:05

Link

Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite

2009-12-12T16:55:00.000-08:00

2000. USA

Progressive Metal/Symphonic Metal

http://www.myspace.com/symphonyx

Symphony X is a New Jersey based Prog Metal band featuring guitar virtuoso Michael Romeo and my personal favourite voice in modern metal, charismatic Russell Allen.

They have a very clear sound statement towards Symphonic Progressive Metal with a dominant mythology thematic. As this two genres have always been two big in the Metal scene, Symphony X is probably the best exponent melting both in the pot into their baroque metal blast.

It is back to 2000 when they release V: The New Mythology Suite, a conceptual album that deals with antique Egyptian theme of Atlantis, with their crossover thematic omnipresent good vs. evil. An outstanding album, definitely one of the gems of Prog Metal.

Spotlight:

Evolution (The Grand Design)
Fallen
Egypt
Death Of Balance/Lacrymosa: Magnificent instrumental, once you finally get it you'll enjoy it twice as much.
Rediscovery Pt.2: The New Mythology

"Prelude" – 1:07
"Evolution (The Grand Design)" (Allen, Pinnella, Romeo, Rullo) – 5:20
"Fallen" (Allen, Lepond, Pinnella, Romeo, Rullo) – 5:51
"Transcendence (Segue)" (Romeo) – 0:38
"Communion and the Oracle" (Pinnella, Romeo, Rullo) – 7:45
"The Bird-Serpent War / Cataclysm" (Pinnella, Romeo) – 4:02
"On the Breath of Poseidon (Segue)" (Romeo) – 3:01
"Egypt" (Allen, Lepond, Pinnella, Romeo, Rullo) – 7:04
"Death of Balance / Lacrymosa" (Romeo, Rullo) – 3:42
"Absence of Light" (Allen, Pinnella, Romeo) – 4:58
"A Fool's Paradise" (Allen, Pinnella, Romeo) – 5:48
"Rediscovery (Segue)" (Pinnella, Romeo) – 1:24
"Rediscovery (Part II): The New Mythology" (Allen, Pinnella, Romeo, Rullo) – 12:01

Link

Jon Hopkins - Insides

2009-12-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

2008. England

Electronic

http://www.myspace.com/jonhopkins

Jon Hopkins is an acclaimed musician, shapeshifter and producer, known for his work with several artists such as Coldplay, Massive Attack, Brian Eno or Imogean Heap. His own releases vary in styles and are electronic craftsmaship. Work where he explores the possibilities in between his head and his computer and makes it real.

Insides touches many sounds and vibes, from eclectic piano melodies, to nasty bass tracks; from incisive drum samples, to gorgeous buildups and swifts. All together in a modern electronic outfit with a master polished production.

Spotlight:

The Wider Sun: Probably the most distinct track of the album, beautiful unique piece of evolving music.
Vessel
Light Through the Veins: If you heard Coldplay's Viva la Vida this will be familiar.
The Lower Places

1. The Wider Sun
2. Vessel
3. Insides
4. Wire
5. Colour Eye
6. Light Through The Veins
7. The Lower Places
8. Small Memory
9. A Drifting Up
10. Autumn Hill

Link

M83 - Saturdays = Youth

2009-12-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

2008. France
Electronic/Shoegaze
http://www.myspace.com/m83

M83 is a french band led by frenchman Anthony Gonzalez. It's sound is a mix of Shoegaze and Electronic music built with reverbs and synthetizers all around in a kind of dreamy/hazy atmosphere.

Saturdays = Youth is their 5th album already and one of the most interesting electronic albums I heard last year. Is very dense, enigmatic and melody focused. For don't know what reason this music gives me a deep sense of nostalgia, and for it's usage of similar samplers as Vangelis Blade Runner OST (btw an outstanding score that I'll cover at some point) it resembles a glimpse of futuristic cities of 80's movies, a very strange touch between past and present... Very weird and therefore difficult to explain but definitely special and pleasant.

Lot of imagery comes from listening to this music: Neon lights, old lomo pictures, nightscapes... Kind of stylish and well-dressed, M83 hits the right key with this one.

Spotlight:

You, Appearing
Skin of the Night
Midnight Souls Still Remain: Endless loop of dreamy soundscapes

"You, Appearing"
"Kim & Jessie"
"Skin of the Night"
"Graveyard Girl"
"Couleurs"
Up!"
"We Own the Sky"
"Highway of Endless Dreams"
"Too Late"
"Dark Moves of Love"
"Midnight Souls Still Remain"

Link

This Will Destroy You - This Will Destroy You

2009-12-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

2008. USA
Post-Rock/Instrumental
http://www.myspace.com/thiswilldestroyyou

Post-Rock is a genre that can be very uniform. There are zillions of bands out there and it takes patience to listen to such a massive amount of music of the style. Nevertheless from time to time you find original and outstanding bands like this one that make it totally worth it.

This Will Destroy You is an american quartet playing instrumental very cinematic and visual post-rock basing their sound in polished clean reverb guitars melodies that would anesthetize a starving gorilla. To this trademark guitar work they add on background soundscapes (sometimes also guitars, with an impressive usage of ebow) and solid drumming when neccessary, sometimes electronic.

The album that follows their name is their second release, an epic journey to the mysterious and fascinating. As a personal recommendation I recently heard to this band while travelling in train, and it was one of the greatest musical experiences ever, they just make the perfect pair.

Spotlight:

A Three-Legged Workhorse
Villa del Refugio
They Move On The Tracks of Never-Ending Light

"A Three-Legged Workhorse" - 9:12

"Villa Del Refugio" - 7:06

"Threads" - 5:41

"Leather Wings" - 3:30

"The Mighty Rio Grande" - 11:18

"They Move on Tracks of Never-Ending Light" - 6:59

"Burial on the Presidio Banks" - 7:43

Link

Alter Bridge - Live From Amsterdam

2009-12-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

2009. USA
Alternative Rock/Metal
http://www.myspace.com/alterbridge

It was 2004 when former Creed guitarist Mark Tremonti deserved a new challenge after years of shred and talent deprival. Him with two former Creed colleagues Brian Marshall and Scott Phillips would join and find in Myles Kennedy the perfect fit singer to complete Alter Bridge. This amazing collision of talents is to date probably the best exponent of Alternative Rock of our time.

After two mind-blowing albums released Live From Amsterdam is a DVD/CD live album that features a selecion of tracks from both past records plus a few surprises.

Alter Bridge takes inspiration in 70's rock living myths such as Led Zepellin or AC/DC and spices it up with Metal, outstanding riffing, sweet shredding, prodigious sense of melody and one of the greatest voices out there, Myles Kennedy.

01 - Intro
02 - Come To Life
03 - Find The Real
04 - Before Tomorrow Comes
05 - Brand New Start
06 - White Knuckles
07 - Buried Alive
08 - Coming Home
09 - One Day Remains
10 - Watch Over You
11 - Ties That Bind
12 - Blackbird
13 - In Loving Memory
14 - Metalingus
15 - Open Your Eyes
16 - Broken Wings
17 - New Way To Live
18 - Traveling Riverside Blues
19 - Rise Today

Link

Pink Floyd - Pulse

2009-12-02T11:23:00.000-08:00

1995. England

Progressive Rock/Psychedelic Rock

http://www.myspace.com/pinkfloyd

What can I say about Pink Floyd... English pioneers of what we call today Progressive Rock. Responsibles for a genuine style of playing and creating music that carries a legacy that will last forever in music. Key influence in thousands of great bands playing nowadays, such as Muse, The Mars Volta, Porcupine Tree, Dream Theater and almost every Rock band alive.

Pulse is a live album released in 1995 by the band. I've been re-listening to it lately and it's such an inmortal piece of music to listen to. Features a compound of songs from many of their albums and some of their greatest hits, though is not a term that I like to apply to such a band.

Atmospheric, eclectic, inspiring, enthralling, neat are some of the thousands of adjectives that could describe this band but it wouldn't be enough. Pink Floyd - Pulse, one of the most amazing live albums ever, ENJOY :)

Spotlight:

Shine On You, Crazy Diamond: YES. The entire song live, don't have to be sticking parts together, one of the greatest Pink Floyd tracks ever.
What Do You Want From Me: What do you want from me¿?!
Money: Collosal version of the epic tune.

CD1

01. Shine On You Crazy Diamond
02. Astronomy Domine
03. What Do You Want From Me
04. Learning To Fly
05. Keep Talking
06. Coming Back To Life
07. Hey You
08. A Great Day For Freedom
09. Sorrow
10. High Hopes
11. Another Brick In The Wall (Part Two)

CD2

12. Speak To Me
13. Breathe
14. On The Run
15. Time
16. The Great Gig In The Sky
17. Money
18. Us And Them
19. Any Colour You Like
20. Brain Damage
21. Eclipse
22. Wish You Were Here
23. Comfortably Numb
24. Run Like Hell

Link

The Mayan Factor - In Lake 'Ch

2009-11-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

2003. USA
Post-Grunge/Alternative Rock
http://www.myspace.com/themayanfactor

Forget about the tags I've just put above and let me give a more informal yet precise band classification. The Mayan Factor is Alternative Acoustic Tribal Rock. All of that in a kind of obscure, hauntingly intense mood.

In Lake 'Ch is the first of their two full albums before they disbanded few years ago. It's a very interesting recording to dig into that resembles a lot from the 90's rock but in a surprisingly innovative kind. It features a singer that has the special ability of being both Wes Scantlin and Fred Durst with a slight change of voicing. May sound stupid... well listen to the record.

Spotlight:

Beauty And The Beast: Beautiful track, epic chorus, intense.
Song of Sam - Prophecy: Song of Sam (here's Wes) - Prophecy (there's Fred)

Warflower
Aim For The Sky
Nothing Really
Beauty And The Beast
Foreplay
Song of Sam - Prophecy
Going to Pieces
Focus - Reborn

Link

Jazzanova - Of All The Things

2009-11-29T04:15:00.000-08:00

2008. Germany
Nu-Jazz/Soul/Electronic
http://www.myspace.com/jazzanovask

Berlin collective Jazzanova is a project embarked by six DJ/producers seeking to explore and put into the mix many different styles into a jazzy-electronic outfit.

Specialists in the art of the remix, Of All The Things is only their second self-written album contrasting with the more than 30 releases they have remixing others. Not considering the dozens of appearances in some of the most acclaimed and finest nu-jazz, chillout and electronic compilations out there.

For what the album refers, it deploys a sensational mix of Soul in their Nu-Jazzy and electronic dressing that will take you back to the 70's not having to move from the XXI century. Every song features voice contrasting to their many past instrumental releases, and seriously they really don't throw anything out on this one, it's just right on spot.

It draws not only from Soul which could be the general tone of the album but also from Hip-Hop, BossaNova, Jazz, Pop and whatever these germans could put in the box. It's quite remarkable that the album regardless of featuring so many different voices and styles into it resembles a huge feeling of uniformity, and it won't be long before you think about the Of All The Things style.

Over all of the words that could describe this fantastic album I would highligh quality. Whatever spot they move onto they do it thoroughly and giving until the last bit into it. It's not Jazzanova visiting, covering or remixing Soul. It's Jazzanova reinventing Soul.

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic, fantastic.

Spotlight:

Look What You're Doin' To Me
Little Bird
Dial a Cliché

Look What You're Doin' to Me
Let Me Show Ya
I Can See
Lie
Little Bird
Rockin' You Eternally
So Far from Home
What Do You Want?
Lucky Girl
Gafiera
Morning Scapes
Dial a Cliché

Link

Pain Of Salvation - The Perfect Element I

2009-11-27T15:46:00.000-08:00

2000. Sweeden
Progressive Metal/Progressive Rock
http://www.myspace.com/painofsalvation

Pain Of Salvation is an outstanding Progressive Metal band from Sweeden leaded by mastermind Daniel Gildenlöw, who started the band at the age of 11. They are amongst other things responsible of maintaining the forgotten spirit of the conceptual album alive, as every album release of theirs is a unique statement musically and conceptually.

I have to say I'm very much in love with this band and objectivity might be lost times... I'll try hard.

The Perfect Element I is their 3rd studio album. It conceptually deals with the individual, adolescence and one struggling fighting against oneself. From beginning to end it features a superlative composition and dynamics. Maintaining melody at all matters, the permanent dance between the soft and the heavy side of the band is represented thoroughly in the album, and both are absolutely necessary and phenomenal. The greater tunes probably come when both sides coalesce in the epicness this bands emanates in massive loads, Song For The Innocent or Ashes could be easy examples of this.

To highlight evidently is the voice arrangements of Gildenlöw. The sweede, who actually won a best singer award at a very early age, deploys a magnificent performance in vocals which gives the nice instrumental the perfect climax that needs. Also the soloing it's always a great plus to this band, smooth.

Spotlight:

Used: Hardcore track, amongst fans favourites, powerful and featuring one of the greatest endings I've heard.
In The Flesh: Probably the most complete track of the album, and each new part that comes up only makes the song better and better. All time favourite. Limitless.
Morning on Earth: Wonderful and delicate ballad that reminds lullabies.
The Perfect Element: PoS closures always spotlight, that may be a blog rule from now on...

1. "Used" - 5:23
2. "In the Flesh" - 8:36
3. "Ashes" - 4:28
4. "Morning on Earth" - 4:34
5. "Idioglossia" - 8:29
6. "Her Voices" – 7:56
7. "Dedication" – 4:00
8. "King of Loss" – 9:46
9. "Reconciliation" – 4:24
10. "Song for the Innocent" – 3:02
11. "Falling" – 1:50
12. "The Perfect Element" – 10:09

Link

Doves - Lost Souls

2009-11-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

2000. England

Indie/Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/dovesmyspace

Not the average indie band. That's the headline I get every time I think in Manchester based band Doves. Without disrispect to the genre, the sound of this Indie tagged band goes way beyond the so called style.

Lost Souls is their first edited album about to reach it's 10th anniversary, deserving a rendition I post it up.

Melancholic and dark, though alluring and accessible, Lost Souls is indeed a chant to what the title points out. Songs for the lost, adrift, or simply pensive. Reflexions that draw the foggy and gloomy city of their sound.

An intense blend of many elements from Indie to Electronic, through Rock and Brit Pop, in the absorbing Doves atmosphere of the lost and despaired. A MUSTerpiece.

Spotlight:

Firesuite: Obsessibely inmersive, melancholic and captivating, inspiring instrumental. Top Class.
Sea Song
Catch The Sun
The Man Who Told Everything: THE musical representation of melancholy.

"Firesuite" – 4:36

"Here It Comes" – 4:50

"Break Me Gently" – 4:38

"Sea Song" – 6:12

"Rise" – 5:38

"Lost Souls" – 6:09

"Melody Calls" – 3:27

"Catch the Sun" – 4:49

"The Man Who Told Everything" – 5:47

"The Cedar Room" – 7:38

"Reprise" – 1:45

"A House" – 3:40

Link

The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life And Death

2009-11-25T13:08:00.000-08:00

2009. USA

Progressive Rock/Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/thedearhunter

The Dear Hunter is a project led by talented Casey Crescenzo. The band's sound is a unique combination (very difficult to describe, though very easy to identify) of alternative and progressive rock, with a very wide instrumentation, outstanding voicing and use of harmony, and somewhat visual and theatrical.

This band is one of those for which writing good songs comes just naturally. Act III comes filled up with 18 exciting tunes that bright for their variety though uniformity towards the band's own stamp. As many might had an easy guess Act III: Life And Death is the 3rd part of a 6 part suite that follows the timeline of an inspiring and entertaining story written by singer Casey. The tale continues to tell the story of 'The Boy' in a journey of self-discovery. And to tell it, the theatrical TDH trademark style comes in scene, which makes lyrics + music one of those perfect fits inseparable. The Dear Hunter is the XXI century mutation of the medieval storyteller put up in a prog rock fashion.

And let me say of this band that they seem to be like good wine getting better and better with years. Act III: Life And Death is the living proof that this band's style has already a footprint to follow in the scene, and that the records to come do not point out any step back in their short but fantastic career to date.

Spotlight:

What it Means to be Alone
The Poison Woman
Saved

01. Writing On a Wall
02. In Cauda Venemum
03. Transition 1
04. What It Means to Be Alone
05. Transition 2
06. The Tank
07. Transition 3
08. The Poison Woman
09. The Thief
10. Mustard Gas
11. Saved
12. Transition 4
13. He Said He Had a Story
14. This Beautiful Life
15. Go Get Your Gun
16. Son
17. Father
18. Life and Death

"I feel like we are one of the, proportionally, few bands that like to write records: long form art. The single format is killing what music is about. If music is about self-expression then there shouldn’t be a time limit."

Casey Crescenzo

Link

Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders

2009-11-24T10:55:00.000-08:00

2008. USA
Progressive Metal/Math Metal/Instrumental
http://www.myspace.com/animalsasleaders

Animals As Leaders is a project commanded by guitar virtuoso Tosin Abasi in an act that goes far beyond Instrumental Progressive Metal as we know it.

The album is a compound of songs that not only archieve to be one of the most impressive technical performances I've heard, but at the same time unlike many other extreme technical acts very audible with an outstandig understandment of composition.

Tosin Abasi draws in this album from not only Prog and Math Metal but melts it in the pot with Jazz, Fusion, the so called 'Djent' and shreds the F**** out of it.

8 string guitars, crazy outstanding riffing, ridiculously changing time signatures, stupidly insane sweep picking, and even sweet acoustic arrangements on top of it is what we find in this fantastic limitless album... and yeah, with 'a little bit' more elegance than Michael Angelo Batio.

Spotlight:

On Impulse
CAFO
Song Of Solomon

"Tempting Time" (5:23)
"Soraya" (4:27)
"Thoroughly at Home" (4:02)
"On Impulse" (6:09)
"Tessitura" (1:06)
"Behaving Badly" (4:26)
"The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing" (5:32)
"CAFO" (6:41)
"Inamorata" (6:08)
"Point to Point" (1:44)
"Modern Meat" (2:06)
"Song of Solomon" (4:16)

Link

4hero - Play With The Changes

2009-11-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

2007. England

Electronic/Soul/Nu-Jazz

http://www.myspace.com/4hero

Dennis ‘Dego’ McFarlane and Mark ‘Marc Mac’ Clair both dj's and producers are more known as 4hero.

The act is a journey of both artists through electronic experimentation. From their pioneering roots in Drum 'N' Bass, Breakbeat and Jungle, House and Techno onto Soul, R&B and Nu-Jazz they've explored the many genres making up this fantastic duet.

In Play With The Changes the band takes on with many chosen Soul singers (Darien Brockington, FACE...) rappers, and the already collaborator Spoken Word singer Ursulla Rucker to create a stunning mixture between the Electronic and Soul that speaks for itself.

Spotlight:

Give In
Sophia (Instrumental)

1. Morning Child - feat. Carina Andersson
2. Take My Time - feat. Jack Davey
3. Look Inside - feat. FACE
4. Sink Or Swim - feat. Lady Alma
5. Give In - feat. Darien Brockington & Phonte (Little Brother)
6. Play With The Changes - feat. Talita Long & Larry Mizell
7. Something In the Way - feat. Bembe Segue & Kaidi Taitham
8. Stoke Up The Fire - feat. FACE
9. Awakening - feat. Ursula Rucker
0. Sophia
11. Superwoman(Where Were You When I Needed You?) - feat. Terry D
12. Why Don’t You Talk?
13. Bed Of Roses - feat. Jody Watley
14. Dedication To The Horse

Link

Dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion

2009-11-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

2009. USA

Progressive Rock/Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/dredg

Dredg is an interesting very melodic prog/alternative rock band from California, USA. They have an amazing ability to write songs and take them to life through the intelligent use of melody. Very good grooving and mind-blowing guitarwork by both singer Gavin Hayes and guitarist Mark Engles (including lap-steel guitar) make the footprint of the band.

After succesful begginings with Universal by their hand the band decided to move onto more independent kind-of record labels. Their latest album The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion continues to dig the band's own style with quality melody commanding the boat, meaning it may differ in some aspects from their previous efforts, but their natural sound just remains untouched, even enhanced to a new level.

The album songs could be classified into two groups: The first, composed by the core 4-6 minute songs, heart-driven, from the epic to the uplifting to the emotional and so on. Anyhow impressively well-written tunes. The second, the various interludes including the Stamp Of Origin passages, helping the way through and giving the album another dimension. After giving the album some listens they result as necessary as the other, they are gorgeous, inspiring and entertaining.

Spotlight:

The Pariah: "Ohhhhh Delusion..." The kind of chorus that will goosebumps your soul, epic tune.
I Don't Know: The chant of the agnostic, profound themed song impulsed by dredg's collosal melody composing.
Drunk Slide: Groovy stunning instrumental track. Love the xylophone.

1. Pariah
2. Drunk Side
3. Ireland
4. Stamp Of Origin: Pessimistic
5. Lightswitch
6. Gathering Pebbles
7. Information
8. Stamp Of Origin: Ocean Meets Bay
9. Saviour
10. R U O K?
11. I Don’t Know 3
12. Mouring This Morning
13. Stamp Of Origin: Take A Look Around
14. Long Days And Vague Clues
15. Cartoon Showroom
16. Quotes
17. Down To The Cellar
18. Stamp Of Origins: Horizons

Link

Jaga Jazzist - What We Must

2009-11-20T09:25:00.000-08:00

2005. Norway

Electronic/Nu-Jazz/Post-Rock

http://www.myspace.com/jagajazzist

The band is also known for having a very flexible setup in which over more than 20 musicians have participated, incorporating and giving each effort a different feel.

The latest album What We Must is a turn in the bands direction towards a more band-like setup, including a more present real drumset rather than electronic percussion, incisive in the previous works. This makes the band be able to melt in the pot both Nu-Jazz and Post-Rock to a very unexpected degree of perfection that will surprise any exceptic. To sum up they incorporate in some songs the use of voice (never done before), which in line with the bands seal is used as an instrument rather than other thing, and it melts in the Jaga Jazzist enchilada as such.

Spotlight:

All I Know Is Tonight: Put Sigur Ros with a jazz quintet and see what happens...
Swedenborgske Rom: Consisting of many parts, including a mind-blowing choir section and a fantastic build-up to the end.

"All I Know Is Tonight" – 7:51

"Stardust Hotel" – 6:15

"For All You Happy People" – 3:58

"Oslo Skyline" – 5:32

"Swedenborgske Rom" – 8:47

"Mikado" – 6:05

"I Have A Ghost, Now What?" – 7:35

Link

The Cooper Temple Clause - Make This Your Own

2009-11-18T10:24:00.000-08:00

2003. England

Alternative Rock/Indie

http://www.myspace.com/thecoopertempleclause

Sadly disbanded english group The Cooper Temple Clause was an alternative rock sextet that put their own stamp into the wide alternative rock concept with a sound of their own. This sound absorbs influence from genres such as Classic Rock, Brit Pop, Experimental Rock and even Progressive Rock.

Make This Your Own is their latest album, and collects all the maturity the band reached from their prime album in five years of life. The album is a journey through the many faces of this band, from the start, rock n' roll straight in your face tunes (Damage, Homo Sapiens) onto the more electronic, commercial sound (Waiting Game, What Have You Gone And Done) evoluting to more disperse, ambiguous and multi-faceted songs such as All I See Is You and the charming House of Cards which closes the album.

Spotlight:

Homo Sapiens: Awesome rock n' roll track, badass.
House Of Cards: The other side of the coin, soft, charming and nostalgic, beautiful track, great vocals work.

"Damage" - 3:43
"Homo Sapiens" - 3:26
"Head" - 3:52
"Connect" - 4:09
"Waiting Game" - 3:33
"Once More With Feeling" - 3:16
"What Have You Gone And Done?" - 3:56
"Take Comfort" - 4:21
"All I See Is You" - 6:43
"Isn't It Strange" - 4:34
"House Of Cards" - 5:03

Link

The Mars Volta - Octahedron

2009-11-17T10:51:00.000-08:00

2009. USA

Progressive Rock/Experimental

http://www.myspace.com/themarsvolta

Excentric rock band The Mars Volta was funded by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala. The band is widely known for their experimentation, latin music influence, sometimes nosense lyrics and live improvisation.

Their fifth full-length album Octhaedron comes right after The Bedlam in Goliath but represents quite a turn to the late mentioned. Considered by the band an acoustic album, it's right away more mellow and song-centered than the previous efforts, which results strange but indeed satisfying as they manage surprisingly well to write this kind of music too. This doesn't mean we won't find songs from the frantic and savage trademark side of the band, but definitely to a lower degree.

I personally applaud the album as a step forward in their so far brilliant career, they proved that even after having explored almost every heterodox weird sound existing possible is never late to pick up the acoustic and write some music classic style.

Spotlight:

Copernicus: Beautiful ballad, relaxing and inspiring.
Teflon: Amazing groovy song, great drum work. (*Can take days to get the chorus out of your head)

Since We've Been Wrong
Teflon
Halo of Nembutals
With Twilight as My Guide
Cotopaxi
Desperate Graves
Copernicus
Luciforms

Link

3 - Half Life

2009-11-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

2002. USA

Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/officialbandthree

From then to then you listen to a band you don't really understand why aren't they widely known... this happens to me with 3. And they've got all the ingredients to it: Talented musicians, great sense of melody, appeal, directness and somehow (in the good side of the coin) catchy and commercial sound.

Half Life is their only to date live album, released right after their debut album Paint By Number. It's indeed an stunning performance by the band, filled up with uplifting tunes, great guitar work (including Joey Eppard's amazing slap-guitar technique), funky vibes and drum solo included.

Spotlight:

Body Turn to Dust: Well the title is self explanatory... grooooovy.
Bedroom in Hell: Amazing "mid-road desertic uplifting ballad" if you let me define it precisely. Great improvement from the CD version.

"Wrong Alright (Gangstaship)" – 5:28
"Paint by Number" – 3:53
"Body Turn to Dust" – 4:36
"Broadway Alien" – 6:07
"You Call Me Baby" – 4:55
"Bedroom in Hell" – 5:38
"Get 2gether" – 3:24
"Paint by Number Again" – 4:39
"Gartdrumm's Paradise" – 3:51
"Amaze Disgrace" – 6:38
"Life's Not Fair" – 15:15

Link

Opeth - Ghost Reveries

2009-11-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

2005. Sweeden

Progressive Metal

http://www.myspace.com/opeth

And then Mikael Akerdfeldt came into the metal scene. Tagging a band like Opeth into one genre is a useless effort of trying to englobe what is a mashup of all things going around this swede genious head, including Metal, Rock, Jazz, Classic Rock, Death Metal.. put up in a prog manner and given the dressing of the obscure and dark classic Opeth appeal.

Saying 2005 Ghost Reveries is their own masterpiece is falling short, because it would have to be dropped in one of all time metal masterpieces. Really don't know where to start and where to end.. the album is an epic journey through the dark side, that takes form in the classic trademark 10-12 minute Opeth manner, with the aid of other 4 shorter that help the way through in a Damnation modus. It's a mash-up of stunning never-ending riffs, nostalgic dark melodies, instrumental madness, acoustic pleasure, the-revival-of-the-arpeggio, and some of the most tasty and soulful solos you'll ever find (Akerfeldt masters this somehow).

This is an obligated listen I would say not only to any metalhead, but to any general music seeker. Even if you said you only liked Maiden or if you are the kind of listener that thinks screams ruin songs. Take the time and listen to some of the songs here and It'll be worth the time.

Spotlight:

Ghost of Perdition: Majestic
The Baying of the Hounds: Majestic (II)
Reverie/Harlekin Forest: Majestic (III)

Ghost of perdition (10.29)
The baying of the hounds (10.41)
Beneath the mire (7.57)
Atonement(5.20)
Reverie/Harlequin forest (12.39)
Hours of wealth(5.20)
The grand conjuration(10.21)
Isolation years(3.51)

Link

The CineMatic Orchestra - Man With a Movie Camera

2009-11-13T08:05:00.000-08:00

2003. England

Nu-Jazz/Electronic/Soundtrack

http://www.myspace.com/thecinematicorchestras

Soviet film pioneer Dziga Vertov would've never expected when shooting his motion picture Man With a Movie Camera (1929) that even 70 years later bands like British CineMatic Orchestra would still be trying to reinterpret the score for his film (original score for the film was only interpreted live in theaters as at the time it was recorded silent).

This British band is as defined 'jazz and electronic outfit', and it's surely one of the most classy and unique bands out there, not only their music gives reason to this, but the whole world created around them says so, their artwork, live performances and so on.

Man With a Movie Camera is an elegant and variated score that dances in between a base of jazz and the electronic and modern colours that the band paints on top of it. It's today considered to be one of the gems of nu-jazz and to many fans their band's favourite.

Spotlight:

Reel Life (Evolution II): Waves of wind instruments come and go like breathing in an out across a stunning drum groove, a song to close your eyes and dream to, top class.
Awakening of a Woman: Reinterpretation of their song Burnout, slight changes but still the same amazing CineMatic tune.

"The Projectionist" – 0:06
"Melody" – 0:20
"Dawn" – 4:00
"The Awakening of a Woman (Burnout)" – 10:20
"Reel Life (Evolution II)" – 6:57
"Postlude" – 1:45
"Evolution (Versao Portuense)" – 5:47
"Work It! (Man with the Movie Camera)" – 8:05
"Voyage" – 0:22
"Odessa" – 2:05
"Theme de Yoyo" – 2:20
"The Magician" – 2:26
"Theme Reprise" – 2:53
"Yoyo Waltz" – 1:17
"Drunken Tune" – 4:50
"The Animated Tripod" – 1:12
"All Things" – 6:06

Link

VOLA - Homesick Machinery EP

2009-11-12T05:56:00.000-08:00

2008. Denmark
Progressive Rock/Alternative Rock
http://www.myspace.com/volaband

Starting the review I was wondering if to tag this band as amateur... well they are indeed young and unsigned, but their songs may point out the contrary. 4 song EP Homesick Machinery is a brave stand up by this Copenhaguen quintet, good riffing, good taste and mature composition. Warm voice Mikael Akerdfeldt alike singer and a formidable drummer make the rest.

Spotlight:

The Avalanche: Steamrolling chorus and best riffing in the EP, stunning.
Like The Rainbow: Very melodic. Nice vocal harmonies.

Like the Rainbow 5:58
The Avalanche 5:17
Giants 6:09
Fragments 3:31

Link

Muse - The Resistance

2009-11-11T10:50:00.000-08:00

2009. England

Alternative Rock

http://www.myspace.com/muse

Difficultly classifiable rock band Muse has been known for it's ability to conciliate fans from many heterogeneous music roots and tastes.

Latest effort The Resistance keeps on digging in the electronic tendency the band took from Black Holes & Revelations, but satisfyingly (unlike other electronic movers) keeping Muse's backbone and style mostly untouched. The album more than accomplishes to feed any hardcore Muse fan but denotes a slowdown in their innovation side. Definitely a nice Muse album but not much apart from that.

Spotlight:

United States of Eurasia
Exogenesis: Three part symphony, score-like approach, scratches in the band's own style and explores it's boundaries.

"Uprising" – 5:02
"Resistance" – 5:46
"Undisclosed Desires" – 3:56
"United States of Eurasia (+Collateral Damage)" – 5:47
"Guiding Light" – 4:13
"Unnatural Selection" – 6:54
"MK Ultra" – 4:06
"I Belong to You (+Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix)" – 5:38
"Exogenesis: Symphony Part 1 (Overture)" – 4:18
"Exogenesis: Symphony Part 2 (Cross-Pollination)" – 3:56
"Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption)" – 4:37 - Total - 12:51

Link

Demians - Building an Empire

2009-11-11T03:36:00.000-08:00

2008. France

Progressive Rock

http://www.myspace.com/demiansmusic

Frenchman Nicolas Chapel founded it's own solo project Demians with, as he says, 'naive approach', though given it's success it would eventually become a real band with musicians chosen by his own.

Appraised by Porcupine Tree's Steven Wilson, Building an Empire it's one of those albums that gives your low expectations in the newbie a smack across the face. The one most surprising fact that comes straight out of it is the quality of it's production. And I mention this because many long time bands would strive to archieve the sound that Chapel has archieved with one bullet. It seriously sounds as if they've been around for years.

The album is a very melodic and shiny polished yet variated passage that has everything from the direct and uplifting 'Naive' to the long spiritual 'Sand'. A MUST to any avid 21st century prog listener. Pretty sure Demians will be around for a long time.

Spotlight:

The Perfect Symmetry: Introduction theme to the album, majestic.
Shine: 3 minutes is enough to Chapel to go from beautiful harmonic acoustic melodies to a riff that will crush your soul.

The Perfect Symmetry 9:19
Shine 3:17
Sapphire 7:28
Naive 4:54
Unspoken 5:59
Temple 3:05
Empire 6:32
Sand 16:09

Link

Oceansize - Frames

2009-11-10T17:11:00.001-08:00

2007. England

Progressive Rock / Post-Rock

http://www.myspace.com/oceansizeuk

With origin in Manchester, Oceansize is one of the most interesting and versatile bands of prog rock of our time.

Their natural ability to balance their music between the thoroughly complex and the inherentlty passionate has given them the key to reach a very wide range of listeners from all time prog and alt rock fans to the very occasional. Frames proves the band in the first statement with an album that does not present 4/4 figures at all and does again with the second with fragile melodies such as 'Savant' or 'The Frame'.

I won't exaggerate saying that this album is the best Progressive Rock album I've heard in the last two years. It resembles perfection in almost every aspect and leaves the rock creativity standard as high as very few can aspire. It's compound of an exquisite selection of tracks each one grown in it's own mood and personality, with apparently no relation between them but indeed all. From the most agressive to the most soothing Frames collects every side of this genious band and takes it to another level. Oceansize wins again.

Spotlight:

An Old Friend of the Christy's: Totally non-categorizable song that could easily fit in any good old war film such as Kubrik's Paths of Glory. An outstanding versatility statement.
Only Twin: Polirythmic and ear tricky, will not let you make sense of it at first listen.
Savant: One of the most beautiful tracks ever heard, still I ask how can it possibly be so complex at the same time.

1. Commemorative 9/11 T-Shirt
2. Unfamilliar
3. Trail of Fire
4. Savant
5. Only Twin
6. An Old Friend Of The Chrysty's
7. Sleeping Dogs And Dead Lions
8. The Frame
9. Vorhees

"Let's just not make singles" Mike Vennart on Frames

Link