WHY? - Etc

First up is a WHY? MP3 put up to draw attention to a cause to help the Sudanese people. Check out the link to see how you can help by buying a Vinyl mix, with songs from Why?, Jim O'Rourke, Dan Deacon, and Mount Eerie. All money made goes to the cause, please help out if you can.
Eskimo Snow MP3


Rubber Traits (EP)




Sanddollars (EP)

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest

After listening to the band's side project Department Of Eagles and their latest album "In Ear Park", I thought it would be really tough for the band to top it, not to mention their fantastic album "Yellow House". But they proved me very wrong. This album lived up to the months and years of hype, and all the shitty leaks that have been heavy throughout the internet for months. This is one of the best of the year so far, (i think i can say that since the year is about half over). Cant wait to see these guys at Pitchfork. The album was recorded in a small church, and the sound certainly matches the setting. My favorites are Two Weeks (backing vocals by Beach House s Victoria LeGrand), Cheerleader, While You Wait For The Others, and Southern Point. Enjoy

Part 1

Part 2

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

Just a great hip/hop album.

Part 1

Part 2

Bike For Three! - More Heart Than Brains

Bike For Three! is comprised of Buck 65 (Canadian rapper from Anticon) and Belgian producer Joëlle Phuong Minh Lê. The two have never met, the project has been created across the ocean. This transatlantic effort has produced a really fucking good hip/hop album, the music is less "beats" and more atmospheric (not like the group) but the music creates the landscape, the scenery. The music keeps you planted as Buck 65's stories will sweep you into deeply specific and personal times and spaces. Favorites are Lazarus Phenomenon, Always I WIll Miss You. Always You., and The Departure. But this isn't an album that you can just listen to one song, you have to hear the whole thing. Enjoy.

FIRS - I Will Come Back As A Volcano

FIRS is a band featuring friends of mine, the band is comprised of two people. The first is a very good friend of mine Sophia, who also works with Wise Blood and DJ's on Woxy on monday nights starting at 5. Woxy is a free independent internet music radio station. They play a lot of great stuff, so please check out her sets. The other member is Joey who is known most, for fronting the Cincinnati band The Pomegranates. FIRS is technically his side band, but I like it a lot more than the Pomegranates music. I think with FIRS being between two people instead of four, Joey has more overall control of the songwriting and also the direction of the music. The looseness of the songs reminds me of Daniel Johnston or Stephen Malkmus, Joey and Sophia aren't scared to switch up the pace and direction of the song at any point. I like this as for the first few listens you are on your toes wondering where they will take you next. Its certainly a great change from a lot of the bands who seem comfortable just keeping the laissez faire attitude. The sounds of this album range from bits that seem that they would come out of a gameboy to drum tracks to distorted guitars. Also another thing you will notice is Joey's very high pitched voice which I assure you adds to the beautiful insanity of the music. This album I am posting is there first, they are currently signed to Lujo Records and working on their follow up record "Man In Space", until then please enjoy this new favorite band of mine. Favorite songs off this are the opener "Whale In The Night", the great love ballad "For Myself Also", and the bass line of "On Your Side". Please Enjoy responsibly. Part 1, Part 2.

Their Myspace also.

Elephant Stone - The Seven Seas

Elephant Stone is a band from Montreal, although from the sound you would assume they would be from somewhere between California and India. I say this because Rishi Dhir, the bands frontman, also plays the sitar on many of the songs off this album. At first when i heard about the sitar on this album i thought maybe it was just a way that they thought that they could stand out. But I couldn't be more wrong. The songs seem to be crafted very very well, the sitar adds such a beautiful and complex new sound to these light, summer songs. One blogger noticed the similarity between Dhir's voice and George Harrison, yes it is there, and to me quite noticeable. My favorites are I Am Blind, (the jam) Don't You Know, The Seven Seas, and Oh Heartbreaker. Enjoy.

Crocodiles - Summer Of Hate

Found this as per a request a reader made. Thank you whoever you are. Summer Of Hate is the first album from this San Diego band. They have received a lot of buzz both good and bad, I really enjoyed this low-fi shoegaze rock album. This is a really solid album and I have been listening to it for the past couple weeks. My favorites are I Wanna Kill, Young Drugs, and Flash Of Light. Enjoy.