And So I Watch You From Afar Stream 'Gangs'

Belfast post-rockers And So I Watch You From Afar have streamed the follow up to their self titled debut ahead of it's scheduled May 2 release date.  The new album Gangs can be heard here

Sarah Fimm Streams 'Near Infinite Possibility'

Sarah Fimm has streamed her album Near Infinite Possibility exclusively at SputnikMusic ahead of it's May 5th release date.  Listen to the new album here.

The Antlers Stream 'Burst Apart'

Brooklyn indie band The Antlers have released a stream of their new album Burst Apart ahead of it's scheduled May 10 release date. It can be heard on NPR here.

And So I Watch You From Afar Debut New Tracks

Belfast post-rockers And So I Watch You From Afar have made their new song 'Gang (Starting Never Stopping)' available for stream exclusively at This Is Fake DIY.  This is the second song that they have released from their upcoming follow up to their massively successful self-titled debut.  The album will be called Gangs and will be officially released on May 2.

Listen to their new song 'Gang (Starting Never Stopping)' here

Listen to the first song they released, 'BEAUTIFUL UNIVERSEMASTERCHAMPION' here

Manchester Orchestra Stream New Song

Indie-rockers Manchester Orchestra have posted a song from their upcoming album Simple Math to soundcloud. The song is called 'Virgin' and, having had the album for about a week, I can safely say it is my favourite track from the album, possibly my favourite song they've ever done.  It's epic and majestic but emotionally striking and sincere.  Listen to it here.  Fair warning: you'll need a change of underwear handy.

New Aesop Rock Material

Well, he hasn't announced a solo follow-up to 2007's None Shall Pass, but fans of New York rapper Aesop Rock have reason to be excited nonetheless.  He has announced a collaboration with Rob Sonic and DJ Big Whiz, named Hail Mary Mallon. The newly formed group have released a video for 'Smock' which can be viewed below.  'Smock' will be featured on Hail Mary Mallon's debut Are You Gonna Eat That?, slated for released on June 7th.  Here is the tracklisting:


1. Church Pants
2. Garfield
3. Grubstake
4. Meter Feeder
5. Smock
6. The Poconos
7. Breakdance Beach
8. Table Talk
9. Mailbox Baseball
10. Holy Driver
11. Knievel
12. Plagues and Bacon

Laura Stevenson and The Cans - Sit Resist

Laura Stevenson is one of the keyboardists of DIY punkers Bomb The Music Industry!, but there's much more to her than that. Whereas BTMI! tend to take a more aggressive punk/ska attitude towards their music, Laura Stevenson chooses to express her ideas through the medium of indie-folk. She created her first solo album in 2008. It was titled simply A Record. The year after that, she put together a short collection of songs and released them as the Holy Ghost! EP. Not that A Record was bad, far from it, but something about Holy Ghost! made the music media sit up and notice Laura in a way they hadn't before. Now here we are in 2011 and Laura Stevenson and The Cans plan to release their highly awaited album Sit Resist on April 26th. If you've never heard Laura Stevenson before, even if you don't really like Bomb The Music Industry! (I don't really....) you should still give her music a shot. Simply put, it's phenomenal.

Download 'Sit Resist' from mediafire here

Swarms - Old Raves End

Are you in the mood for something soothing and relaxing? Maybe something to put on as you drift away into your thoughts or as you fall asleep? Well, I've got something for you. Check out this three member dubstep/ambient/whatever group from the UK, Swarms. Old Raves End was released on March 28th 2011 by LoDubs records in Bristol and is chill as fuck. Move over Eluvium, I think I have a new bedtime band.

Download the album from fileserve here

Bon Iver New Album Details

The album cover for 'Bon Iver,' to be released June 17, 2011

In 2008, Bon Iver took the world by storm when they released the monumental For Emma, Forever Ago to massive critical acclaim. Justin Vernon became the unofficial king of the indie world overnight as his band's debut album quickly became a favourite of every 20-something with a break-up fresh in their memories.  He left the world wanting so much more.  There was the Blood Bank EP, released in 2009, but the world has been patiently waiting for Bon Iver's full-length follow-up.  Well, the date has been announced.  Bon Iver will be released June 17th.  And let me tempt you with this, a 51-second clip from the new album.  Simply put, it's gorgeous. Listen to it here. And how about that album artwork? Phenomenal, no? Call me crazy, but I think Justin Vernon is about to take the world by storm.  Again.

It's time to play the waiting game folks.  Come join me, it's going to be agonizing. Here's the tracklist for the new album:

1. Perth
2. Minnesota, WI
3. Holocene
4. Towers
5. Michicant
6. Hinnom, TX
7. Wash.
8. Calgary
9. Lisbon, OH
10. Beth/Rest

Dharohar Project, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons

Oh Record Store Day, how I love you so.  Once a year in April, record stores across the world are treated to special-edition pressings of obscure, rare, or otherwise unavailable vinyls. It's somewhat of a 'thank-you' to the consumer for the recent revival in record sales, or so I've gathered.  Either way, I picked up a real gem this year, a limited edition 10" pressing of a very interesting collaboration. This EP was the result of a tour through India in December of 2009 in which London indie stars Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons were heavily exposed to the Indian folk music scene.  They befriended the nine-member Dharohar Project and wrote and recorded four songs with them.  The result is a fascinating mix of drastically different musical styles.  Whether you are a fan of Indian music or indie-pop, this EP is worth a listen. Whether you like it or not, it's nice to see artists leaving their comfort zones to experiment with different sounds.  

Download the album from mediafire here

Manchester Orchestra Release Music Video for 'Simple Math'

Words can do no justice to this music video, just watch:

The song is called Simple Math from the upcoming album of the same name. Manchester Orchestra will release their new album on May 10th, 2011.  I know it's early, and I know I've only heard two songs from the album, but all signs point to this being the album of the year (like Mean Everything to Nothing was in 2009. Sorry, Animal Collective).

New Touché Amore Song

The album cover for Parting The Sea Between Rightness and Me

Los Angeles hardcore band Touché Amore have released a song from their upcoming album Parting The Sea Between Rightness and Me (to be released on June 7).  The song is called "Tilde" and can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/deathwishinc/touche-amore-tilde.


Needless to say, I'm pretty excited for their upcoming album.  The song is a brisk 90 seconds long and is great, but, of course, it leaves me wanting much much more.  I can hardly wait until the album drops in June (or leaks in May, more likely).

The Weeknd - House Of Balloons

OK, so I'm late to officially jump on this massive hype-train (which is actually growing at an alarming rate, this kid is going to be HUGE).  But, I've been jamming The Weeknd for a solid month now, a friend of mine knows a guy who knows this guy.  So, I'm pretty much famous I guess.  Anyway, assuming you live under a rock and haven't heard this mixtape yet, head over to his website http://the-weeknd.com/ where you can download it for free.  It's deliciously chilled-out hip-hop with an R & B bent from a young kid in Toronto.  Next time you find yourself not knowing what to listen to, just throw on this mixtape and let its jaw-dropping production and soothing melodies wash over you.

2562 - Fever

I'm new with this whole "dubstep" thing so bear with me while I make an ass of myself, but this is one of the better dubstep albums I've heard in a while.  2562 is the recording name of Dave Huismans and Fever is the name of his new album which was released on April 4th, 2011. 2562 falls on the more chilled-out side of the genre, drawing comparisons to FaltyDL and Peverelist.  But I'm gonna stop pretending like I know what I'm talking about and instead direct you to a review written by someone who knows their shit.  Read about Fever at sputnikmusic. Trust me, Deviant (the reviewer at sputnik) knows his shit.

Download Fever here

Review for Scrublife Mixtape by Wax

Many of you have likely heard of Wax; he has been building up his name for the past three years or so by posting his videos of himself rapping, sometimes with his twin brother Herbal T, on Youtube. He has just recently been signed to Def Jam records, which is actually a pretty big deal for someone who got famous in the manner that he did. His new mixtape was officially released on March 15, 2011. It features many of his well known tracks, including New Crack, which has an intro that references his popularity on Youtube: "We just reached a million views, about to drink a billion brews." Most of the songs on the mixtape were produced by EOM, his colleague and long time friend. The two had previously collaborated on 2008’s Liquid Courage, self released by Wax and EOM. 


'Scrublife' is really a fitting title to this collection of songs. In the age of the internet becoming famous via Youtube is no longer that unheard of, but it’s still a little bit odd. For the most part, Wax is just a regular 20-something trying to live a good life in California. His raps are less about bling and swag and more about bike lanes and splurging on Captian Morgan’s spiced rum. Listening to lines like “Oh yah, oh my my, I don’t give a fuck about a DUI, you can take away my license but you can’t take away my pride, Oh yah oh my my, Imma keep drinkin’ till the day I die, two wheels is the way I ride” from Two Wheels, it’s nearly impossible to not relate, or at least empathize, with the everyday struggles of his "scrub life."


Wax’s rapping on the mixtape varies in quality, but when it's good, it's incredible. The standout song is definitely 2010 Til Infinity. On this track, Wax delivers his best vocal performance behind an incredibly subtle, yet gripping beat which is taken from a song by Oakland hip-hop group Souls of Mischeif called 93 Til Infinity. The chilled-out piano-based beat rocks by subtly in the background as Wax's clever lines take centre-stage. The track opens with "This is not for the less astute guppies / go back to watching videos of cute puppies / or little babies dancing to 'Single Ladies' / whatever stimulation the simple taste of your brain needs" and I could go on, but I would probably just end up quoting the whole thing. Every line is clever and well-executed and the general 'theme' of the song is how he's started to take charge of his own life. It's uplifting and very easy to relate to, like much of the mixtape. That's the thing that's so awesome about this release, Wax raps about stuff that regular people think about: spending too much money on beer, hating his shitty day job, staring at himself in the mirror and telling himself this he's going to get his life together, and so on. He makes me feel like I could be a rapper (except there's no fucking way I could be a rapper at all, let alone be anywhere near to as good as he is).


Other clear standouts include the first two tracks, Red and FAIL ("you're an F to the A to the I to the L"), the fun Dispensary Girl, which is a track about a woman he meets at his local medical marijuana dispensary, and the penultimate track, Wax Goes Bananas on Shade 45, where wax does a "writ-style" live on radio. (He admits it's not technically a freestyle, so the DJ compromises.)


Some of the songs are admittedly of much lesser quality (Everything and Limousine come to mind), but to be fair, this is a mixtape. It's really just an amalgamation of all the songs he posted to Youtube over the past three years or so.  Also, the weaker tracks are not necessarily bad at all. They're just not on the same level as some of the monster tracks on the album. The choruses on the weaker tracks tend to be what turns me off for the most part, but it's just because they aren't as gripping as the perfectly simple beat and genius rapping found on the aforementioned 2010 Til Infinity (fuck I love that song). What I'm trying to say is, every song is still at fun as hell and full of hooks. And no matter what the tone of the individual song, Wax is always spitting some pretty funny and/or accessible lyrics. He gets pretty serious sometimes like on Music and Liquor: 


                       "Addictive personality, ironically, I write my realest shit when I escape from reality. I drink to forget then I write to remember, its been like that since my high-school tenure. I can't imagine if I never had this rapping hobby, I'd rarely be happy probably. But I knew a lot of people when I lived back in Maryland; they had it way worse getting addicted to heroin. So I shouldn't be too pissed, I'm just getting sick of writing drunken self-help to do lists that remain unchecked cause I never follow through, and when you move old habits follow you."


But it is most notable on Mary. This is a song told from the perspective of Mary, a young girl who has never met her dad. Her mother's boyfriend moves in after a while and things start off OK. As the song progresses though, the new house guest reveals himself to be an abusive alcoholic. He starts sexually assaulting Mary (this is never actually explicitly stated, which is clever, because which little kid knows what 'sexually assaulted' or 'raped' even means?) and one night Mary gets fed up and hides a knife under her pillow. When he comes in that night to do his thing, she goes crazy on him, justifiably so, and just absolutely murders the FUCK out of him. It's actually pretty brutal.

And then there's weird, funny, totally not serious stuff like the guest appearances by Dale Firebird. I'll try not to give away too much here but Dale Firebird is a 'hick' who "only drinks American beer" and has a guest track. He also appears for several 10-20 second skits throughout where he lets us all know that the mixtape is "fucking god awful." Simply put, it's hilarious.

This is a mixtape with a lot of content and I could go on; I've really only mentioned about half of the tracks that I feel are notable. There is a lot to say about the 17 tracks. Some of them are phenomenal, most of them are great, and a few are just passable. Overall, sounds like a pretty good album, doesn't it? And even if you don't like some of the songs, well, cool it. It's a mixtape and this guy just got signed. With the continued help of EOM, Herbal T, and Dumbfounded, and the financial backing of a big music label, Wax has the potential to really take the mainstream hip-hop world by storm with a strong full-length LP.


This mixtape is worth checking out, even if you only end up liking a couple tracks.  If you need some convincing, here's my favourite song from the album, the Youtube version. That's how he "got big" after all.  Enjoy:

Final Score: 8 / 10

Recommended Tracks:
- Red
- Dispensary Girl
- 2010 Til Infinity
- Mary
- New Crack
- Wax Goes Bananas on Shade 45


Stream or download the album at his bandcamp http://waxdotcom.bandcamp.com/
Also, check out his website for more information, show dates, photos, T-shirts, all that good stuff http://www.waxdotcom.com/

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

The Foo Fighters are my favourite response to anyone who tries to tell me that there just simply isn't any good rock music being released today.  Their new album, titled Wasting Light, is set to be released on April 11th, but you can stream it now, for free, at this link.  In my personal opinion, it is their best album yet, and they've been releasing music since the mid-90s. 

White Limo was the first single, and it is my personal vote for best song on the album. The music video is shot to make it look like a tacky mid-80s home movie, and it's perfect.  It also features Lemmy from Motorhead.  Watch it here:

The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck

Surprise surprise, the new Mountain Goats album rules incredibly hard.  All Eternals Deck was officially released on March 29 on Merge Records.  You can stream the album in full (with only a few annoying but short commercials) at NRP here

Download All Eternals Deck from Mediafire