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Cancer Bats on the “Deathsmarch”, new music video

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve always envied the the prolific and seemingly “tight-knit” Toronto/Buffalo hardcore-punk scene; its no secret that there has been a long line of stellar bands to from this region, and this post is about the latest. The brand new “Deathsmarch” music video is pretty much quintessential Cancer Bats, a Toronto band of gritty punk rockers that is quickly gaining notoriety. “Deathsmarch” may be a bit more mid-paced than usual from these guys, but at its core it’s still the enthralling, disgusting, southern infected hardcore that they are known for. While perhaps a bit cheesy at times (though I think that probably has more to do with the overly enthusiastic fans than anything else), the video is a pretty awesome clip. It’s a really well-shot piece that could easily be mistaken for one of their lives shows if it the edit weren’t so clean.

When they are at their best, there is no one better at what they do. The over-the-top riffage and impassioned, engaging vocals that make their live shows so fun are also exactly what make “Deathsmarch” a great aural piece for this type of clip. Enjoy!

(featuring a guest appearance from Wade of Alexisonfire)

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Ace of Base get the nasty, gritty, dirty remix treatment

Posted in Audio, Downloads with tags , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Erik Burg

I’ve been having a pretty solid day already. Classes, check. Paycheck, check. Laundry, check. Music domination, check. And more in line with music domination now, this time with one of my favorite guilty pleasure tracks. Ace of Base’s “All That She Wants” is the subject of this remix, fixed up by remix masters Disco Villains. These guys have done tons of different mixes and I’ve loved almost all of them, and this song is no exception. I can’t believe I’m openly admitting that I love the original, and now I’m dancing around to the remix. Turn it up loud, and do the same. Enjoy!

disco-villains

MP3: Ace of Base – “All That She Wants” (Disco Villains Remix)

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Album Review: Zombi, Spirit Animal

Posted in Audio, Music Reviews with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Erik Burg

spirit-animalIf there was ever an album to be described as epic, and in the actual definition of the word, not “epic” as in “cool”, this is that album. Hands down. Whether it’s a good or a bad thing, I can’t truly decide yet. Far and away the most sprawling and expansive album I’ve nearly ever heard, Spirit Animal is a rare treat for all those instrumentalist fans out there. It’s like a modern day Phish or Grateful Dead, minus the drugs and bad music, and with more synthesizers and keyboards. The shortest track runs seven minutes, three of them over 11 minutes, and plenty of tunage in between.

And I can’t tell, for the life of me, whether I like it or not. I mean sure, I can appreciate it musically and acknowledge the fact that the two guys are greatly talented, but I feel like if I was playing this in my room alone I’d rather not be caught doing so. Spirit Animal while at times mesmerizing, can get quote cheesy at time… there I said it. It’s just so, like I said, epic, that you just want to laugh at it and tell Zombi to stop taking themselves so seriously. But hey, maybe that’s it’s charm, that nothing else like this has existed on a mainstream level in a long time.

Another problem that I have with this album is that it become extremely repetitive, whether it’s in the structure of each song, or repetitive as a song itself. What Zombi does well it does very well. Heavy synth that matches the electro guitar, dark bass line, and drums that never stop, often breaking into few minute long jams that astound the listener. And all of that is great, it really is, but Spirit Animal kills it for me, sorry. I would probably be in love with this as a five track 24 minute long EP instead of this hour long five track whirlwind of an album. It’s all crazy stuff, maybe it’s over my head, I don’t know really. But what I so know is that Zombi can jam and put together some impressive material, it’s just that they do it for too long, and in an almost embarrassing fashion. I can be over kill, and it can be genius.

Lucky for you, Zombi is streaming the entire album. Or you can be lazy and grab on of the tracks below. I’d encourage checking out all of their stuff I’ve got posted here. I think you’ll definitely see what I mean about these guys. It’s worth your time.

6.5 never-ending drum solos and synth pedals out of 10

Stream: the entire “Spirit Animal” HERE

MP3: Zombi – “Spirit Animal”

Zombi live @ the Empty Bottle in Chicago 4/28/07

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Mr. Gaspar does the mash with Daft Punk and Boys Noize

Posted in Audio, Downloads with tags , , , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Erik Burg

mr-gasparI’m kind of disappointed in myself for not posting more remixes and mashups on here, seeing as I listen to them non-stop in the car or on my way to class. So yeah, I’ll try and get more of those out to you loyal readers. Here is a nice start, Mr. Gaspar, who’s remixed everyone from Katy Perry to The Cardigans along with some original material of his own, has yet another remix floating around the interwebs lately. This one mixes up Daft Punk’s classic “Harder Better Faster Stronger” with Boys Noize’s intense electro jam “Lava Lava”. It’s not perfect, and it’s nowhere near what a mashup is possible of doing as far as how it create new and nostalgic feelings all at the same time, but this track is a nice treat for anyone interested in both of the featured artists. It’s a grimmy and rough track in the end, but I love it all the same, what can I say? I’m a sucker for a good mashup. check it out for yourself, enjoy!

MP3: Harder Better Faster Stronger // Lava Lava (Daft Punk vs. Boys Noize) Mr. Gaspar mashup

Bonus (!): Mr. Gaspar – “Give You A Call”

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Album Review: Knonam, Loud.com EP + Download

Posted in Downloads, Music Reviews with tags , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Tim Althaus

knonam-loudcomepcover250 I don’t think I talk enough about how happy Minneapolis Hip-Hop makes me. For the last 15 years there has been Hip-Hop pouring out of the great city of Minneapolis from the Rhymesayers team. Ever since I was in 10th grade I’ve had the great pleasure of finding out about it all, or so I thought. A lot of people don’t know that there are still a lot of other great emcees in the Twin Cities, and Knonam (pronounced No Name) is a great testament to my previous statement. I found this gem on the internet a little while ago, to be honest I can’t remember where I found it, but I wish I did so I could give them the props they deserve.

This EP is only technically seven tracks long (Brother Ali does the intro), and it features some of the biggest names in the midwest on guest appearances (Brother ali, Eyedea & Royce Da 5’9″). This EP also has stellar production from behind the boards courtesy of Knonam and Jake One. Knonam is one of those guys that fires off rhymes like a machine gun, all while making it seem so effortless. Every track on this EP is quality, I don’t think there is one track I would skip if I was listening to this album. Knonam’s production is very heavily influenced by 80’s music and it’s very easy to tell on tracks like “1988” & “Ransom” . The track “Hold It” featuring Brother Ali is pretty close to as perfect as you are going to get. In the first verse Knonam spits: ” The day I retreat to ya’ I’ll spit without clips/watch me swallow a Rubik’s Cube and shit it out fixed”, and Brother Ali spits: “We come to your town umpteen deep, and wipe your legacy out in one clean sweep!”. That’s the common theme of this album, dope ass rhymes with punchlines on every track.

Knonam actually dropped a debut album last year called Length of the Blade which you can purchase here. I am going to make sure I get myself a copy of that album, and everything else this guy does. It’s always really refreshing to me to be able to find out about such great talent so close to home. This is probably the most refreshing EP I’ve heard besides The LAyover EP in years, Knonam really brings the heat. I’m telling you, don’t sleep on this, you will truly regret it.

10/10

Guess what? You can download this EP for free! HERE!

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Swan Lake get all creep and crawly on their new single

Posted in Audio, Downloads, Music News with tags , , , , , , , , on Monday, February 23, 2009 by Erik Burg

March 24th marks the release of Swan Lakes newest album Enemy Mine (on Jagjaguwar records), but a few tracks have already been released in anticipation of the album. The newest single, entitled “Spider”, is a short romp in line with other Swan Lake material, from this album and their debut effort as well. It’s a hard-to-describe whirlwind of a track that, unless you kind of know what you’re getting yourself into, can be a complete turnoff upon first listen. Like most of their work, “Spider” is a herky-jerky (I’m an amazing writer) track that spills over with vocals and heavy rhythmic drums. The synthesized keys in the background add for a nice twist, especially in the chorus when they wind and swerve with the vocals, complimented by Spencer Krug‘s small vocal part toward the end of the song, “Spider” is a splendid track. Along with the other singles already released, Enemy Mine is shaping up to be an amazing album. Check out the mp3 below along with the album artwork (some of my favorite of 2009 so far). 

MP3: Swan Lake – “Spider” or check out “A Hand At Dusk” off of Enemy Mine as well.

 

Swan Lake's "Enemy Mine" set for release on March 24th.

Swan Lake's "Enemy Mine" set for release on March 24th.

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Sunday Metal Minute: Agoraphobic Nosebleed, “Agorapocalypse Now”

Posted in Sunday Metalhead Minute with tags , , , , , , , , , on Sunday, February 22, 2009 by Ryan Buege


ANBThe Massachusetts gore-grind mind Scott Hull is on the loose again, and this time it’s his Agoraphobic Nosebleed violent grind onslaught that’s doing the damage. On “Agorapocalypse Now”, the current tri-vocal combination between Jay Randall, KAT, Richard Johnson is doing wonders for the ANB sound and while it’s still gritty, chaotic, thrashy, and messy, it’s a much more digestible sound than what was found on the outfit’s earlier albums. Scott Hull has made a way for his violent electronic death grindand to sound almost classic, in a way. Anyone who was hasn’t payed attention to Agoraphobic Nosebleed in a few years should tune back in; Scott Hull is the riffmaster and this band is in the finest form of the existence.

Listen: Agoraphobic Nosebleed, “Agorapocalypse Now”

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3 New Rjd2 Tracks For Your Dead Ringer Loving Soul

Posted in Downloads, News with tags , , on Sunday, February 22, 2009 by Tim Althaus

ramble-john-krohn I can tell you that nothing in the enitre world made me happier than reading this news article last night. Ramble John Krohn (Rjd2 for short) is almost done with his fourth studio album, and he has three tracks that have been leaked. RJ released Third Hand a couple years back and a lot of fans were wondering why RJ took a sudden direction turn away from Hip-Hop. Even though RJ strayed away from Hip-Hop I can say that I never lost faith in this man. I will never forget Dead Ringer and hearing the track “Ghostwriter” for the first time in my best friend’s car (thanks Abe). Dead Ringer changed the way that I felt about production in Hip-Hop music, and for that I will always show RJ love. There is a good chance that he will forever be in my top 5 for production skills.

I remember that Pitchfork wrote an article about RJ “ditching” Hip-Hop, and I personally couldn’t believe it. How could a man with so much talent in one area (MHz, Soul Position) depart from the one genre that gave him his name? I later heard an Rjd2 produced Little Brother track called “Best Kept Secret” and my heart was filled with joy. It was then I knew that Pitchfork had been totally wrong and I could continue on with my life.

Flash forward to yesterday. I hear that Rjd2 has three new tracks out and I have no idea what to think. Is he going to go back to his roots? Is he going to stay indie rock? Let me tell you that this was one of the best surprises I have had yet this year (granted we are only two months in). These tracks sound like some absolute gems from the Dead Ringer days with RJ back at the top of his game. If you personally were a fan of Dead Ringer or Since We Last Spoke, you couldn’t be happier with these tracks. Make sure you give these tracks a good listen because there is plenty more great material to come. Be sure that you also know I am waiting for this record like Christmas, and you should be to if you are an Rjd2 fan.

Download:

“Song For You”

“Time Has The Final Word”

“Morning Break”

Just because I am so content I’m throwing in a video to (watch Rjd2 get down):

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Brother Ali Brings You the 2nd Part of the “Good Lord” Promo

Posted in Video with tags , , , , on Saturday, February 21, 2009 by Tim Althaus

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Here is the second part of the “Good Lord” promo. The first part is an intro with Brother Ali and Rik Cordero, and then Ali goes into an acapella of a new track. It sounds like The Truth is Here is going to be more classic material from Brother Ali. Make sure you go grab that shit when it comes out next month. Stay tuned to Mind Inversion for the review.

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The Chairs cover Bon Iver and swing through La Crosse next month

Posted in Audio, Concert Dates, Music News with tags , , , , , , , , on Friday, February 20, 2009 by Erik Burg

I’ve heard a few tracks from these guys in the past and their debut EP was a real treat, now The Chairs are planning a short tour at the end of March. The new track is another spectacular cover (they also covered Neutral Milk Hotel a few months ago). This time the guys take a stab at Bon Iver’s beautiful song “Flume” of his debut album. It works out pretty well too, I mean sure, the empty and echoing feelings of the hollow Wisconsin woods are gone but they’re traded for soothing synths and guitar’s of the electric kind. If you haven’t heard these guys yet this track is a decent gauge of their sound, they have a certain spookiness that I can’t really describe. So check it out for sure

MP3: The Chairs – “Flume” (Bon Iver Cover)

And if you enjoy this sample be sure to see them on their tour next month. They’re sweeping through the midwest on a short tour, and they’ll be hitting La Crosse on March 26th. Their show is at Viterbo University, too bad places like the Warehouse can’t bring in acts like this, La Crosse is a town anxious for concerts like this one, and I hope there is a great turn out for these guys. So go out and support great music, whether it’s at their La Crosse show or any of their midwest stops, it’ll be worth your time. 

 

The boys from Appleton are worth remembering, be sure to check them out

The boys from Appleton are worth remembering, be sure to check them out

 

A debut album is set to be released March 17th, so the tour should be featuring plenty of new material. Check out some more of their material on their myspace, including their cover of “In An Aeroplane Over the Sea.” Or jump over to their official page to find out some more info about the crew. All dates for the tour below:

March 21 Omaha, Nebraska The Foundry
March 22 Columbia, Missouri Cherry Street Artisan
March 23 Kansas City, Missouri Davey’s Uptown
March 24 Ames, Iowa Ames Progressive
March 25 East Moline, Illinois MixTapes
March 26 Viterbo University La Crosse, Wisconsin
March 27 Elbo Room Chicago, Illinois

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