russell peters - outsourced (2006)

russell peters is one of the few comedians i truly enjoy. most of his stand-up sets are filled with unrelenting jokes about the many stereotypes the world has grown to love. in a sense, he has a lot of confidence to be able to go up on stage and deliver extreme doses of stereotypes and racism, accompanied by a mastery of accents and facial expressions. add that, and the fact that we are both brown, and you can consider me a fan.

russell peters on the web.
buy outsourced.

download outsourced:


- grizzly

pompeii - assembly (2006)

it's always nice to come across a local band that you actually want to listen to. most of the local bands around this part of texas make you want to come to shows late and avoid local shows at all costs (see wut i did there?) pompeii is an indie-rock band out of austin, texas and have the smooth vocal stylings and pop sensibilities similar to those of death cab for cutie and stars. another one of pompeii's selling points is their incorporation of the cello. their debut lp, assembly, was one of the better records to come out in 2006.

pompeii on myspace.

lawlz.

- grizzly

the snake the cross the crown - like a moth before a flame (2003)

before signing to equal vision and before taking a more folk-rock approach, tstctc released an ep on indie label. and i'm sorry in advance, but i'm going to be "that guy" and say i enjoy this release over their more recent releases cotton teeth and mander salis. like a moth features beautiful and driving melodies over a smooth blend of outer space and rock music. i still jam this ep from time to time, and it's a great winter-time album most suitable for your headphones.

the snake the cross the crown on myspace.

download like a moth before a flame:


- grizzly

youinseries - outside we are fine (2006)

youinseries is a five-piece from las vegas, and released their debut lp, outside we are fine, sometime last year on equal vision. outside is a solid rock album with just the right amount of ambience to lay back and the right amount of bite to not bore you. this band is still pretty young, but i think they have a lot of potential to turn some heads with a sophomore release.

youinseries on myspace.

download outside we are fine:


- grizzly

the stryder

from helping pioneer the long island post hardcore sound, to creating an album full of genre defying hip hop/soul influenced indie rock.. the stryder were quite the innovators during their time. almost completely overlooked in their time, they released two full lenghts and two ep's before calling it quits. if you remember, i made a post about their former lead singer peter toh. former drummer (on masquerade) and guitar player/vocalist (on jungle city) scottie reddix has also gone on to solo greatness, with his soulful project cassonova brown. drummer (on jungle city) durijah lang has gone on to drum in many amazing long island bands, including his current projects saves the day and glassjaw. you seriously won't be disappointed if you download these (especially if you're a drummer.. both albums.. wow). do yourself a favor.

the stryder on myspace.
cassonova brown on myspace.
peter toh on myspace.

download masquerade in the key of crime (2000):


download jungle city twitch (2002):


- paaaaaanda

the stiletto formal - masochism in the place of romance (2005)

the stiletto formal know what it takes to make you dance. this includes keyboards, cowbells, tambourines.. even a cello. garnering comparisons that include everyone from at the drive in (which is easily the most justified) to cursive.. the stiletto formal play a rhythm controlled brand of indie rock that'll have you swinging your hips in no time. be on the look out for these guys (and gal) in 2K8, as they're currently in the studio working on their debut full length.

the stiletto formal on myspace.

download masochism in the place of romance:


- panda

the photo atlas - no, not me, never (2007)

the photo atlas is a pretty solid band out of denver, co. if i had to describe their sound, i'd say they try to mix a heavy at the drive in influence with a dancefloor and even worse haircuts. and for those of you that automatically hate me for using at the drive in, i'm sorry.

the photo atlas on myspace.

download no, not me, never:


- roshan

oh, sleeper - the armored march (2006)

oh, sleeper is a five-piece ______core band on solid state records, and features ex-members of terminal and between the buried and me. these dudes have a very tight and cohesive sound, and bring something new to a very stale and played out genre. but get your black shirt, tight jeans and bandanas out as soon as possible, anyway.

oh, sleeper's full length, "when i am god," came out on solid state today.

oh, sleeper on myspace.

download the armored march:


- roshan

union of knives - violence and birdsong (2006)

what happens when three scottish producers get together to make an album? apparently you get an album full of heavy synth lines, dirty electronic beats, and the finest blend of massive attack, placebo, and muse.. the way it seems only the UK can bring it. if this isn't enough to convince you.. the band can do it in only thirty seconds:

get on it.

official union of knives website.
union of knives on myspace.

download violence and birdsong:


- panda's back.. tell a friend.

foxy shazam - the flamingo trigger (2005)

i'm pretty sure foxy shazam as an entity are insane.. or at least, they should be declared so. musically, the band remind me of what would happen if mr bungle and the blood brothers decided to put on a musical.. or a circus (apparently hanging from rafters and standing on keyboards are the norm at a foxy shazam show). in one of the odder signings of the year, the band signed with ferret records earlier this year. be on the lookout for their casey bates produced, ferret debut in early 2008.

foxy shazam on myspace.

download the flamingo trigger:


- panda

as tall as lions - as tall as lions (2006)

i'm gonna try not to kiss this band's ass anymore than i have in the past year.

ok, so i'm lying. both bears of this blog have been graced with this brilliant masterpiece via last summer. it topped both of our album of the year lists in '06. basically, if you don't like this record, then you must hate music. ATAL play a melodic and beautiful jazz/soul/pop infused brand of indie rock, and singer dan nigro will soothe your soul with his vocals. the album art is amazing, they dress well, they put on incredible and energetic live shows (and i'd say that's a big deal considering the style of music they play.) to be honest, i can't tell you a single thing i dislike about this band or this album. not to mention, i've listened to it about 200 times, and i can still play it through from start to finish.

atal > what you're listening to.

as tall as lions on myspace.
as tall as lions on the web.

download as tall as lions:


here is a video of them playing 'be here now' in nyc (soundboard recording):



- grizzly

simian mobile disco - attack decay sustain release (2007)

SMD are an english electro/production/remix duo. from the ashes of simian (a similar group, but more on the rock side of things), SMD are a more electronic based version of simian, and attack decay sustain release is their debut record on kitsune. good shit.

simian mobile disco on myspace.

download attack decay sustain release:


- grizzly

colour revolt - colour revolt (2006)

colour revolt are an indie-rock outfit out of mississippi. their small-town indie rock is gritty yet remains somewhat meloncholy. vocalist jesse c. can move up and down the scales, from raspy yells to falsettos in no time. i can't really compare CR to any other band, or say much else about them. they're currently in the studio recording a follow-up to their self-titled ep, due out sometime in 08. i recently caught these guys live, and they played a handful of new stuff, and it sounds incredibly promising.

colour revolt on myspace.

download colour revolt:


- grizzly

manchester orchestra - you brainstorm, i brainstorm, but brilliance needs a good editor (2005)

manchester orchestra have been on the rise lately, touring constantly in support of their lp, "i'm like a virgin losing a child." they've toured with the likes of kevin devine, brand new and kings of leon in the past year and have been starting the create a buzz. this ep was released before 'virgin' and although it's not out of print, it can be hard to come across. this ep is worth checking out for 'the procession' alone, the standout track on a pretty solid ep.

manchester orchestra on myspace.

download you brainstorm, i brainstorm, but brilliance needs a good editor:


- grizzly

sneaker pimps - becoming x (1997)

everybody remembers '6 underground,' or i'd assume has heard it at least once. unless you had your doors and blinds shut since 1997. i remember seeing the video for 6 on mtv and being completely into the song. i also remember borrowing this record from one of my cousins and making a tape out of it. i mean, at the age of 11, it was unlike anything i had ever heard in my life.

anyways, the sneaker pimps play a very smooth style of trip-hop/pop that sits very well with me. becoming x was the outfit's first record, which singer/songwriter kelli dayton laid vocals down for. the pimps would later make a very awful choice and release singer dayton from the group. good call...


sneaker pimps on the web.

download becoming x:


- grizzly