Pagoda

Super low-key, starry, fuzzy music from DC, good for cool, late summer nights, waiting for fall. (Sorry if the blurb here is a little too thin; work beckons. If anyone wants to editorialize a bit, go ahead and hit the Comments.)

Tear Down the Tents [MP3, 2.6MB, 160kbps]
Down to the Road [MP3, 3.7MB, 128kbps]
It Must Have Been Days [MP3, 3.6MB, 128kbps]
Mesa Verde [MP3, 2.6MB, 128kbps]

www.lazyline.com
www.pagodamusic.net

The Prids

Sure, this whole 80's thing is still going on, but let's just remember there was more to the 80's than the Clash and the Thompson Twins. There were many European bands who straddled the lines between post-punk and goth/industrial, as in Clan of Xymox, Trisomie 21, the Cassandra Complex, the Legendary Pink Dots, New Order, etc. The Prids update this sound for the new millenium, with a whole boy-girl interplay that provides a freshness to what they're trying to do. And considering the boy-girl, David Frederickson and Mistina Keith, were married, then divorced, and still play in this band together, well that gives a whole new meaning to sexual tension.

Shadow and Shadow [MP3, 5.4MB, 192kbps]

www.five03.com
www.theprids.com

Justin Rutledge

I was listening to the always excellent CBC Radio 3 podcast a few weeks back while flying cross-country. Maybe it was the altitude or lack of non-peanut sustenance but Justin Rutledge's live, sing-along rendition of "Don't Be So Mean, Jellybean" made me bust up a cryin'. Here's hoping it makes the cut for his new album due out in the fall.

Don't Be So Mean, Jellybean (Live)

from No Never Alone (2003):
The Suffering of Pepe O'Malley (Pt. III)
Special
Too Sober to Sleep

www.sixshooterrecords.com
www.myspace.com/justinrutledge
www.justinrutledge.com

Spearhead

Michael Franti is the one of those rare singers whose boomin' growl can start a party as quickly as it can a protest (probably about time for him to update his 1992 cover of "California Uber Alles"). His latest Spearhead joint comes on the heels of his self-booked trip to Iraq, which is documented on the DVD I Know I'm Not Alone. His experience, which included performances for U.S. soldiers and Iraqi families alike, clearly shaped the album's compassionate ("I Know I'm Not Alone") and passionate ("Yell Fire") flavors of rebellion.

Yell Fire [MP3, 4.4MB, 128kbps]

www.anti.com
www.spearheadvibrations.com

Feathers

Raised on bands like The Pixies and The Smiths, Eddie Alonso's musical boundaries broadened upon hearing Can's Ege Bamyasi. From that point forward Alonso worried less about using his music to tell a particular story, and instead concentrated on mesmerizing the listener. With his work cut out for him Alonso honed his recording skills and hoarded music gear with his "Canned" inspired musical theory in mind. Writing music with his bandmates, Matt Crum and Eric Rasco, under the moniker Feathers, the trio merges all styles without working towards any sound in particular. What emerges are riveting instrumental tracks suited for a world where Esquivel and Bacharach are worshipped as pop idols.

Skara Brain [MP3, 5.7MB, 192kbps]
My Apple Has Four Legs [MP3, 4.7MB, 160kbps]

Buy on iTunes
www.home-tapes.com

Eskiimo

I usually try to avoid overdoing it with backstory, but Dear Eskiimo [ed. note: It's now just Eskiimo; check out the comments] has proven to be so confounding that a little context feels appropriate, if only to relieve the mystery in my own mind. About three months ago we got a link in our suggestion box to an entertaining pop mini-mix that merged the mixers' own tracks with showtunes, Depeche Mode, Gwen Stefani, PiL, Eminem, and more. Eskiimo’s original music was intriguing, if truncated, so I emailed them to solicit more music with which to share the sharing. We exchanged a couple of semi-cryptic messages and I waited for MP3s that never came. So…I go searching the other day and am reminded of Eskiimo, whose MySpace page now features two downloadable tracks. The group counts Gorillaz, Eels, and The Dresden Dolls among its friends on MySpace and it has major press representation, slick photos, and an attractive lead singer. They were apparently on Mercury Records UK when they released their EP last year and now, with a full-length debut on the way, the Dear Eskiimo website redirects to Universal Music UK…where there is no information on the band. Long story short: Dear Eskiimo appears to be a relatively unknown UK pop group that has everything going for it—major label support, cool “friends,” and solid representation. [Read the comments for a demystifying explanation of what's going on with Eskiimo]

Oh yeah, and talent. Lead singer Katie lists among her musical tastes “good, un-crap pop music,” which is a great way to describe Dear Eskiimo, too. The trio make pop music that doesn’t hide its radio ambitions, but they don’t suffer terribly for it. Dear Eskiimo are quite unlike what we’ve been trained to expect from Manchester over the years, which makes them sort of mainstream outcasts. They merge well with Annie, Scissor Sisters, Zero 7, and other groups you’ll hear at hip clothing stores. And the mix of organic melodies and canned beats might bring back fond memories of, um, George Michael’s "Freedom '90" and "Faith." (Let the hater-mail commence.) “Pretty” is a chirpy number about…abusive relationships. The whimsical “Patience” sounds Broadway all the way—I have the sneaking feeling it’s a cover that I just can’t place. In fact, I have the sneaking feeling that Dear Eskiimo may just be “undiscovered” to me and that I’ll get plenty of emails from those in the UK who have been listening to them on the radio for a while now. Oh well. Whether they’re stars or a secret, Dear Eskiimo’s pop music sounds pretty un-crap to me.

Pretty [MP3, 2.1MB, 96kbps]
Patience [MP3, 2.3MB, 96kbps]

www.eskiimo.com
www.myspace.com/deareskiimo

Winechuggers

This is my last Delicious Berries post, using bands from MusicalFamilyTree.com's Indiana indie compilation, and this one might be my favorite. Winechuggers have an easy-going rock feel, like all the Pavement or Sebadoh songs I realy like and none of the ones that I can't stand. Good stuff, and on the MFT site there are about 100 songs from Winechuggers to sift through — "Long Circuitous Path" is just a little piece of candy. Thanks to Jeb Banner for putting together the site, the compilation, and for playing along in this bands as well. Good luck, Indiana!

Long Circuitous Path [MP3, 4.1MB, 192kbps]

www.arenarockrecordingco.com
www.winechuggers.com

So Many Dynamos

Finally! I've been sitting on So Many Dynamos for a little while now, trying to wait for their new album before posting about them. These St. Louis fellas have recently spent time as Emperor X's backing band and extensively touring themselves. All that time on the road and all the shows have helped them find, focus, and refine themselves. The goal: to make you dance. The result: crashing drums, frantic vocals, equally frantic guitars, a horn section, a 30 member choir, carnival instruments, and lots of dancing in the living room.

Progress [MP3, 3.8MB, 128kbps]
Laugh About It Later [MP3, 4.0MB, 192kbps]
Heat/Humidity [MP3, 308MB, 128kbps]

www.skrockirecords.com
somanydynamos.org

Hot One

All the Catholics who thought The DaVinci Code was an assault on their religion might as well not even bother with Hot One. The opening track on their self-titled album, "Get Your Priest On!", doesn't present the clergy in a particularly flattering light. Social and religious conservatives, war hawks and politicians, parents, the timid and shy — none of these groups really fit the Hot One focus group of vulgar, disgusted and distracted fans of filthy glam rock, with a sarcastic political bent. I was blasting the disc while driving with all the windows down in my Saturn Vue recently, and it felt so right to be so wrong.

Do the Coup D'Etat [MP3, 3.2MB, 128kbps]

profile.myspace.com
www.hot-one.org

Lemonheads

(With all the excitement of Steve Martin in The Jerk upon discovering his new phonebooks...) The new Lemonheads is here! The new Lemonheads is here! My goose has been all up in a gander anticipating the new album. Evan Dando recorded it with reigning punk rock producer Bill Stevenson of The Descendents working the boards (and drums). J. Mascis' guitar geniusly underscores this track. I know Lemonheads fans were hoping for a return to form. Sounds like they got it...

No Backbone [MP3, 4.4MB, 192kbps]

Buy on iTunes
www.vagrant.com
www.thelemonheads.net

Red Bennies

It appears the Red Bennies couldn't care less. Their website lists shows from back in April. The only trace of live shows on their myspace page are from comments of other bands, posting flyers for recent shows. What gives? Where y'all at? Would somebody from Salt Lake check in and give us an update? Pretty please. I was slimming down my music collection and came across a couple albums I picked up back from my time in their town. They've veered away from their thick, noisy, gain-up-hot, Helmet from hell sound ("Provo Cries" and "Tyler") and honed in on their lo-fi rock 'n' roll soul ("I'm Coming Home" & Shake It Off"). Soul-Fi if you will. To put them in a 3hive context for you, they'd align nicely with Cold War Kid's improvisational reach for rock's primacy, and Midlake's recent take on nostalgia but leaning past the 70s to rough up Smokey Robinson a tad. And no, the Red Bennies were NOT thinned from my collection.

I'm Coming Home [MP3, 7.6MB, 192kbps]
Shake It Off [MP3, 9.1MB, 192kbps]
Provo Cries [MP3, 5.3MB, 192kbps]
Tyler [MP3, 3.4MB, 192kbps]

www.exumbrella.com
www.rest30.com
www.redbennies.net

Jim Noir

I'm not gonna mince words here. Sam sucks. He's on vacation and the poor fellow couldn't get a post up before he left. Jim Noir rules. His songs make you feel like you're on vacation. His latest album, Tower of Love, conjures, through simple melodies, long lazy, barefoot days spent flying kites, sipping and snacking on favorite treats, watching the sun set, and reading out on the porch against evening breezes. Track down the Fatboy Slim remix of his song "Eanie Meany" if you're more of a party-all-night-on-the-dancefloor vacationer.

Key of C [MP3, 3.2MB, 128kbps]

Buy on iTunes.
www.barsuk.com
www.jimnoir.com

All Night Chemists

Len Monachello was the bassist for Thisway, which signed with Reprise in the waning days of the major label indie land-grab of the ‘90s. They released one critically well-received but publicly underexposed album and recorded another that is yet to be released. The same thing happened to Wilco around the same time and on the same label. The name of that album was Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Just saying. Anyway, Monachello has no misconceptions about the business of making music, which could be why he’s so good at the craft side of it. The Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has a mellow, reflective voice that speaks to experience and a way with instrumentation that, as they say, goes easy on the ears. Fans of Elliott Smith, Badly Drawn Boy, Joe Henry and Ron Sexsmith should clear some space on their iPods, as should the rest of you.

Down Here [MP3, 3.5MB, 192kbps]
Fine With Me [MP3, 4.1MB, 192kbps]

www.allnightchemists.com

Hands Down Eugene

Hailing from Nashville, uh Indiana, Hands Down Eugene is yet another of the fine acts featured on Delicious Berries, MusicalFamilyTree.com's cool compilation of Hoosier bands. MFT had the entire Hands Down Eugene EP Full Blast available for free download, so here it is. With a rotating cast of musicians and a little weirdness thrown into the pop-rock mix, there's probably something here for everyone.

Full Blast [MP3, 4MB, 160kbps]
If It's Up To Me [MP3, 3.5MB, 160kbps]
Ticket Girl [MP3, 3.4MB, 160kbps]
Champion [MP3, 3.8MB, 160kbps]
Built for Speed [MP3, 4.6MB, 160kbps]
Read and Disadvantaged [MP3, 3MB, 160kbps]

http://www.handsdowneugene.com

The Autumn Project

No, summer ain't over, but the kids are back in school, which means it's essentially autumn. Des Moines, Iowa's The Autumn Project and their post-rock sounds, then, provide us with our first assignment of the school year. Their 2003 LP Fable is a case study in the genre, full of monsterous guitar soundscapes and crashing cymbals. Their latest A Burning Light is darker and more focused, as demonstrated by doing a little compare and contrast between "Of Memorium" from Fable and the newer "Between the Smoke & Mirrors." Five paragraphs, double-spaced. Due tomorrow.

Between the Smoke & Mirrors [MP3, 4.8MB, 128kbps]
Of Memorium [MP3, 6.5MB, 128kbps]
The Buffalo vs. The Bottomless Pit [MP3. 9.1MB. 128kbps]

www.zurecords.com
deepsend.com
www.imagineitrecords.com

New Mexican Disaster Squad

Over the weekend I ran into an avid 3hive reader, Rick R., who first blamed us for the recent departure of sizeable chunks of cash leaving his wallet in exchange for music we've posted on the site. I love hearing that. Then he complained, good-naturedly, that our Punk section was all over the place (which 3hive genre section isn't??). I love hearing that as well. When I asked him what persuasion of punk most buoyantly floated his boat he mentioned New Mexican Disaster Squad. Ah yes, a new generation of classic, old-school punk. Musically, punk has moved beyond the early sounds of Minor Threat and Black Flag, so much so that, with the exception of just a few bands, music like this, fast, angry and completely skateable, has been relegated once again to the margins. Fine by me as long as bands like NMDS keep keepin' it real.

Tightrope [MP3, 2.6MB, 192kbps]

Buy from iTunes
www.jadetree.com
www.newmexicandisastersquad.com

The Screaming Eagles

This is not the screaming eagle from the beginning of "The Colbert Report" (though I hear he's got a Christmas album in the works). This is a Vancouver, B.C. outfit who play fiery instrumental pop inspired by "pre-shitty Weezer" that's good enough to not require lyrics...though I sure would love to know the story behind some of these song titles. Their debut album, Enemy Gold, is available at shows or — as wonderfully quaint as this may seem — by emailing the band members individually and making arrangements.

DooDooDooDoo [MP3, 2.0MB, 128kbps]
Futureball [MP3, 2.0MB, 128kbps]
Entertip [MP3, 2.0MB, 128kbps]
Cobra Cabana [MP3, 2.0MB, 128kbps]

www.myspace.com/thescreamingeagles
www.thescreamingeagles.com

G. Love

I'll be honest. I've let G. Love drop off my radar. It's been a long while since I've chilled out with a cold beverage tapping my toes along with G. Love's white boy Philadelphonic blues. He's sweetened up his new album, Lemonade, quite nicely with Blackalicious and Lateef on my favorite track, "Banger." Perhaps you prefer a twist of Ben Harper, or a pinch of Donovan Frankenreiter. G. Love's got a posse and they've set up their lemonade and blues stand just in time for me to drop some quarters on a refreshing, late-summer cool-me-down.

Banger featuring Blackalicious [MP3, 3.1MB, 96kbps]
Hot Cookin' feat. Donavon Frankenreiter [MP3, 2.6MB, 96kbps]
Let the Music Play feat. Ben Harper and Marc Broussard [MP3, 2.4MB, 96kbps]

Buy on iTunes
www.brushfirerecords.com
www.philadelphonic.com

Bel Auburn

Bel Auburn is a quintet from Ashland, an idyllic Ohio town some distance southwest of Cleveland. I say idyllic despite never having been there because the sweeping soundscapes that Bel Auburn have created are anything but ugly and uninspiring. In fact, these tracks, all from the band’s second self-released LP, Lullabies in A & C, are about as anthemic, emotive, and polished as you’ll find from a group of friends living off the cultural grid. It’s reminiscent of Coldplay or early Jimmy Eat World, the latter of which Bel Auburn claim as an influence. The lyrics can drift into codes known only by their author, but once a warm blast of guitar kicks in and Matt the lead singer lets go with a cathartic chorus, you’ll know exactly what Bel Auburn mean even if you have no clue what they’re talking about.

(Selected tracks are linked below; visit the Bel Auburn Website to download the rest of the album.)

Roses [MP3, 5.4MB, 160kbps]
Metropolitan (Watercolor) [MP3, 6MB, 160kbps]
Lullaby in A [MP3, 5.1MB, 160kbps]
Good Night [MP3, 5MB, 160kbps]

www.belauburn.com

Heidi Gluck

Our next artist from MusicalFamilyTree.com's great compilation Delicious Berries, featuring the work of Indiana musicians, is Canadian Heidi Gluck. I know, I know... it seems she spent some time in Indianapolis. Anyway, her track on the disc has a heavy country vibe that really works for me, and that you won't find at all on the free downloads available below. The songs here are all about pop smoothness, either up-beat or down-tempo. "Open Your Eyes" reminds me a bit of Heidi's Some Girls bandmate Juliana Hatfield. (The cover of their month-old album Crushing Love is the thumbnail image for this post.) And next week, another artist from Delicious Berries.

Slow Motion [MP3, 4.1MB, 160kbps]
Wingwalker [MP3, 3.4MB, 128kbps]
Open Your Eyes [MP3, 4.5MB, 128kbps]

www.musicalfamilytree.com

North Valley Subconscious Orchestra

Medicine played in Memphis right before I got home from college one summer, but my brother Josh and our friend Andy saw them and even visited with them at the Admiral Benbow Inn (just recently demolished). They learned that Medicine's wicked guitar feedback was achieved by running Brad Laner's guitar through a four track and turning all the knobs up. We spent that whole summer trying to get a four track to mimic a distortion pedal with no success. Brad Laner, we determined, was a genius. Which is probably why I recently Tivo-ed the movie "The Crow," just so I could see that scene of Medicine playing "Time Baby," trying to get a glimpse of his guitar setup. Now Laner and fellow guitarist Christopher Willits, as North Valley Subconscious Orchestra, are releasing another feast of guitars on Ghostly's digital download-only album The Right Kind of Nothing. More melodic feedback, anyone?

Shimokitazawa Face [MP3, 4.1MB, 128kbps]

www.ghostly.com
www.bradlaner.com

Dr. Dog

The details are sketchy, but Dr. Dog is the raison d'etre for the label Park The Van. Now settled in as a five piece, Dr. Dog boasts an alumni membership of 20 strong, all contributing in some small or large way to Philadelphia's premier basement band. Dr. Dog loves nothing more to get their hands good and dirty, digging around in lo-fi dirt, 4-tracking the night away. With roots reaching down deep to Beach Boys and Beatles bedrock, they sow and reap pop blossoms cross-pollinated with Grandaddy, Ween, and Pavement. I've had their album shuffling through my library for over a year and shame on me for not sharing until now. But now's as good a time as any to be a Dr. Dog fan. Next month the band releases a new EP, Takers and Leavers, then heads out on the road with Cold War Kids on their way to joining The Raconteurs tour as main support.

From Easy Beat:
Easy Beat [MP3, 4.5MB, 128kbps]

From Toothbrush:
ABCs [MP3, 4.3MB, 128kbps]
Adeline [MP3, 3.0MB, 128kbps]
Wake Up [MP3, 4.3MB, 128kbps]

Buy from iTunes
www.parkthevan.com
www.drdogmusic.com

Vancougar

Sultry, simple, and sometimes silly girl pop from the city of, you guessed it, Vancouver, BC. Vancougar split the difference between two perennial favorites from the 3hive archives, All Girl Summer Fun Band and Dressy Bessy. Word of warning: these MP3s are a bit rough 'cuz they're demos. From what I've heard, the album is a wee bit more polished—just enough, not too much.

Way It's Gon Be [MP3, 3.1MB, 128kbps]
Credit 'Tard [MP3, 2.4MB, 128kbps]

www.myspace.com/vancougar
www.vancougar.ca

Eliot Lipp

Tacoma, Washington. Home of the underappreciated, yet thoroughly ruling punk band Seaweed. At one point I think I had eight Seaweed t-shirts. One of them had the band's logo on the front, and in large, capital letters "VISUALIZE TACOMA." I've never been to Tacoma, but from what I hear there's nothing special to visualize. Then there's Eliot Lipp. His two latest releases were recorded in L.A. while he had Tacoma on the brain. So what did he do? AURALIZE TACOMA. The soulful grooves on Tacoma Mockingbird, and the new Days EP, grew from his moods and emotions while reflecting back on his hometown and friends. His output is a simple, yet simmering synth stew of well-worn breakbeats with Lipp's retro, yet timeless, twist. His goal was to create a classic electro sound which he pulled off with his economic use of synths and beats. Think New Order pitched down to Grandmaster Five's tempo, and drop in a lick of their rhythm.

From The Days EP:
Eyesore [MP3, 3.4MB, 192kbps]
Glasspipe (Daedelus Journey to the Center Remix) [MP3, 4.8MB, 192kbps]

From Tacoma Mockingbird:
Rap Tight [MP3, 5.2MB, 160kbps]

Buy from iTunes
www.easterndevelopments.com
www.heftyrecords.com
www.eliotlipp.net

Originally posted 05/10/05:

One of my favorite labels, Scott Herren's Eastern Developments, recently made MP3s available on their site. Well, actually just one MP3. In fact, it's a remix, not even an original track. Hey, you know how the saying goes, beggars can't be choosers (although around here we prefer "sharers" over beggars...). This remix brightens up Eliot Lipp's usual dusty, hip-hop groove. Track down Lipp's full-length for twelve underground, soulful rhythms sans rhymes.

Neutral (Leo123 Remix) [MP3, 4.6MB, 160kbps]

The Coup

Matt, aka Gigahaw, reminded us of The Coup, the Oaktown rap duo who are best known, unfortunately, for "that album cover." Boots Riley and DJ Pam the Funktress do wear their politics on their sleeves (even their toned-down cover for Party Music depicts a young player at a bar enjoying a Molotov cocktail). But what they don't seem to get enough credit for is their ability to move your butt as well as your conscience. So, with their latest, Pick a Bigger Weapon, they have turned up the funk to match the intensity of their message. The intro is even called "Bullets and Love," which brings me to another first for The Coup... A handful of apocalyptic slow jams that include the best (and possibly longest) song title of this administration: "babylet’shaveababybeforebushdosomethin’crazy" — awwwww yeeeeaaaahh...

My Favorite Mutiny (featuring Black Thought and Talib Kweli) [MP3, 4.3MB, 128kbps]
We Are the Ones [MP3, 5.9MB, 192kbps]

www.epitaph.com
www.thecoupmusic.net

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's

MusicalFamilyTree.com, a website dedicated to spreading the word about and sharing the music of Indiana bands, recently released the Delicious Berries compilation, and it is awesome. Fresh voices, ambitious sounds — I wish someone here in Michigan would tap into our local talent the way the MFT folks have. For my weekly posts in August, I'll be featuring bands from the compilation, because it really is that good. The first, Margot and the Nuclear So and So's, starts the disc, and with its deal on Artemis is likely one of the most commercially successful of the bands on Delicious Berries. The tracks below, full of quiet harmonies and pop hooks, are taken from their 2005 album The Dust of Retreat.

Skeleton Key [MP3, 4.8MB, 192kbps]
Barfight Revolution, Power Violence [MP3, 5.1MB, 192kbps]

www.artemisrecords.com
www.margotandthenuclearsoandsos.com

Spencer Dickinson

Ain’t nobody ever needs to doubt Jon Spencer and the Dickinson brothers' blues. What they're doing may be a tad less “blue” than the genre’s down-and-out Mississippi Delta roots, but Spencer, the brothers in the band and father Jim producing have been keeping the blues fresh (and let's not forget Fat Possum Records) all of those years that your dad has fallen for those suburban guitar prophets with top-flight training and no sorrow. Granted, “That’s a Drag” is about as sorrowful as Spencer Dickinson’s blues get, but give me the sound of a night of hard livin’ over an AOR darling any day.

That’s a Drag [MP3, 4.2MB, 160kbps]

www.yeproc.com

Peppertree

Summertime rules. And it's got the best of the 3hive crew as we can't seem to remember who's posting when, who's filling in for who when the latter who's vacationing. But not even summer can stop us even while it's trying to melt us all. New music everyday, or damn near close. Today's selection is Peppertree: soaring, dramatic rock from Québec. A nice interplay between opposites (acoustic/electric, English/French, soft/loud) gives off an air of dramatic tension, without giving into overt thespianism. If you've been searching for Radiohead's French Canadian cousin, you've found them.

Wallpaper [MP3, 8.5MB, 206kbps]
Myriads of Stars [MP3, 5.5MB, 206kbps]
La Brume en Equerre [MP3, 5.2MB, 210kbps]
La Cage Appat [MP3, 4.6MB, 209kbps]

www.peppertree.ws