11/21/13- The Atomic Bitchwax- The Formula

A face/mind melter. Strap yourself in and go for a ride. I'd suggest listening to this one with the lights low and a cocktail in your hand.

11/13/13- 311- Sometimes Jack Rule The Realm

Love the 2nd half of this tune. Stick around for a nice little bass solo at the end.

11/11/13- Volto- Grip It

Lawrence, KS's very own Danny Carey (TOOL) rocking out in his side project. His style is unmistakable.
Live the fusion life.

11/5/13- Wander Over Yonder- Intro Music

Want to get a song stuck in your head?

Also check out this cartoon, it's pretty good.

11/4/13- Swearin'- Dust in the Gold Sack

Diggin the classic alternative rock sound from this group. Loving the vocals too.

10/31/13- The Misfits- Scream

Happy Halloween! SCREAM.

10/25/13- Phish- The Wedge

One of my favorite sing-alongs.

10/24/13- Pink Floyd- Pigs (Three Different Ones)

As winter approaches- at least for me here in the land of Michigan- I once again find myself attracted to the music of Pink Floyd. There is something about their atmospheric grooves that have a chilly warmth (if that makes any sense). The extended jams have a meditative quality that fits the slowing down of the cold and frost. There are so many cuts I could choose, but this one stuck me today as having every element that a killer Floyd tune should have- eerie synths, groovy bass and drums, layered guitar licks, and pointed vocals. I couldn't find any original versions on the web, so here is a spot on cover. Enjoy.

10/16/13- Frank Ocean- Pilot Jones

Frank Ocean's 2012 debut Channel Orange resurfaced on my listening list recently. I kinda gave it pass on my first few listens back then but after listening to Rhye's "Woman", I am coming around to really enjoying the album. Minimal and sexy. Maybe it's because its getting cold and I've been sitting by the fire place, a perfect setting for sexy music.

10/15/13- Moe- Rebubla, live Albany NY

Im always down for a Moe. show. Can't be at one so this will have to do.

10/10/13-HAIM- The Wire

These girls and their sparkly clean pop sensibilities have blown up. What I find most appealing about them though is their ability to translate these heavily produced tracks in to a live performance- and not with a bunch of hired musicians, but by themselves (with the addition to a drummer). This is commendable.
Check out first the studio version (if you have not heard it yet) and then the live performance see what I mean.

10/9/13- Eluvium- Dont Get Any Closer

Progress seems to be an issue these days. A lot is on my mind. Focus.

10/2/13- Born Ruffians- Needle

This track came on during my run today. I first thought it was Fleet Foxes but was happily surprised by its development in to a pretty killer pop rock tune by a band I was unfamiliar with. Nice.

9/30/12- Dawn of Midi- Dysnomia- full album

Thanks to Jess for this find. A three piece instrumental group (upright bass, grand piano, drums) who play ambient electronic music, live. be prepared to have your mind blown.

9/19/13- Cate Le Bon- What Is Worse

great tune for a rainy day here at the lake.

9/18/13- Royal Bangs- Back Then It Was DIfferent

As the title of this tune suggests, yes it surely was.

9/17/13- Apache Indian- Boom Shack-A-Lack

Living here on the lake with the sun just puts me in a good mood, what better song to go with this great day.

9/16/13- Group Love- Ways To Go

Here in the Chicagoland area you can feel the summer days slipping in to autumn. Be sure to sneak in one or two more sunshine parties before the year dies. Here's a solid tune for your soundtrack. The video is pretty fantastic as well. enjoy.

9/13/13- Gila- Aggression

Get out this week's aggression and mellow in to your weekend.

9/11/13- Vampire Weekend- Step

Now that I am back to the real world I had a chance to check out the new Vampire Weekend album. Pretty solid attempt to their junior release. They really have a way with melody, this song is a great example.

9/10/13- Gentle Giant- Alucard

On this extremely hot and humid day lets lose our minds and melt in to human meat puddles. A tune to get you in the right state of mind.

9/9/13- LCD Soundsystem- Dance Yrself Clean

Maybe a little something to lift your spirits on a Monday. Worked for me.

9/5/13- Kyuss- Green Machine

Before there was Queens of the Stone Age there was KYUSS. Get sludgy.

9/4/13- SchoolBoy Q- Collard Greens

With a killer beat and damn catchy hook this song proved hard to get out of my head for a month or so. Give it a try.

9/2/13- Daft Punk feat. Panda Bear- Doin' It Right

Great collaboration between these two.

8/29/13- Typhoon- Young Fathers

All I want to say about this song is LISTEN TO IT. I guarantee that you will enjoy it.

8/28/13- the Front Bottoms- Au Revoir

"Au Revoir" was one of my theme songs on the trail. Check out this quirky band, there is some Presidents of the United States stuff going on in their tunes. If you dig what you hear, go to NPR Music and check out the groups performance in the Tiny Desk concert series. Rock n' Roll!

8/27/13- Rhye- Open

Its been A LONG time since my last track posting. My wife, Jess, and I just completed a 14 state, 2000+ thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. It was Epic and something neither one of us will forget. I want to kick things back off with this track in honor of Jess. Without her I would never have dreamed that I could have done what we just did. Thank you my wife.

3/10/13- Devendra Benhart- Won't You Come Over

In Atlanta this evening and will be taking my first steps on the Appalachian Trail in 2 days, not to be done walking until sometime around late August/ early September. I will leave you with a tune off of my current favorite album. I have listened Benhart's "Mala" 10 times over the past 3 days and am still blown away with each listen.

Hopefully I will get some more tracks up as this year is proving to be a killer music year. Get out there and explore. 

Have a great couple of months.

3/1/13- Foals- Inhaler

Wow, I was gone for a while there. Apologies. It's the first of a new month though and I am back with more music to share. Try on the opening groove of this tune. Fits pretty well, right?

2/7/13- Kvelertak- Fossegrim

It's been a while, I know. Quitting a job, packing up an apartment, moving 500+ miles, unpacking, training, family, etc. all things that have kept me busy the past week and a half. Back with a vengeance though. Give a listen to these guys- love the creative blend of metal and rock. great guitar work too. I have heard in a while.

1/24/13- Reptar- Please Don't Kill Me

After reading a few reviews, these guys seemed to get panned because of their apparent similarities to previous successful groups like Vampire Weekend, Passion Pit, or Animal Collective. Screw the holier than thou attitude though. Although you can make comparisons, for me, this group is putting out fun music that is fun to listen to. It is just a reminder that critics can and like to ruin a party just to say they did. The title of the song forwards this thought.

1/23/13- Reading Rainbow- Wasting Time

A nice little washed out power pop tune from a Philly Group. Perfect as they come.

1/22/13- Four Tet- Battle Hymns for Battle Times

Ready to get groovy and spacey? Slide into this tune.

1/18/13- Bananarama- Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

Last day of work till I start my Life-Cation! Goodbye KCAI, it was real.

1/17/13- El Ten Eleven- Ian Mackaye Was Right

Thanks to Jess for letting me know about this group. I have always been a fan of bass and drum duos, the link between the two instruments allows for a large amount of potential. These two have a great way of keeping a song moving and interesting through building and layering of their rhythm, technique, and effects. Pretty cool.

1/16/13- Go West- King of Wishful Thinking

This song is mathematical formulation for pop gold.

1/15/13- The Neville Brothers- Yellow Moon & Arron Neville- It's All Right

Great Creole Funk. Can't get enough of Arron Neville's slinky voice? Be sure to check out his new cover of classic doo wop tunes- Bring It On Home....a taste below.

1/14/13- Slick Rick- Hey Young World

The golden age of hip hop.

1/11/13- Wilco & Billy Bragg- California Stars

A nice song off a pretty cool album- Wilco & Billy Bragg taking a spin on some Woody Guthrie penned tunes.

1/9/13- Lucius- NPR Tiny Desk Concert- Go Home, Don't Just Sit There, Turn It Around, Genevieve

Wow. Wow. Wow. This group took my breath away pretty immediately. I only wish I could work somewhere like NPR where groups like this are discovered. Beautiful vocals and amazing song writing- somehow both soaked in R&B music history but also contemporary and fresh.
Give a listen (and also check in with your music sources on a regular basis so that a group like this won't get missed!)

1/8/13- Roxy Music- Ladytron

Im not sure what I am watching/listening to here. Check it out and draw your own conclusions. It's gonna get weird.

1/7/13- Neil Young- Like A Hurricane

My brother gave me Neil Young's new book, Waging Heavy Peace, for Christmas and as I have been getting through it the more I want to dig back in to his music. This is one of his many fantastic tunes- both solo/slow and full band/faster. I suggest checking the book out- a good read thus far.

1/4/13 Unknown Mortal Orchestra- Thought Ballune

These guys have a nice vintage sound going on. I heard they have an album due this year, should be interesting to see where they take things.

1//3/13- Alex Clare- Up All Night

Wow, fell a bit behind here! Hope everyone had a a great end of the year, 2012 was a good one for me.   Over the holidays my brother turned me on to this track and I dug it immediately- enjoying the dub/rock kind of vibes. Reminds me of The Urge.
Anyways back to full steam- here's to a killer 2013!