HIM - Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights

This post is for my buddy Kev. I would say, out of all the Finnish love-metal bands that I know of, HIM is absolutely my favorite. Nevermind the "heart-o-gram" or the coverage that Bam Margera provides; the band excels on their own by creating a dark, goth rock that many have tried to capture, but nevertheless, have fallen short. In some respects, the band looks like they belong back during the 80's hair band craze, but the lack of contrived musicianship shows differently. Ville Valo's lyrics move seamlessly from track to track, never losing the deep inflections that help root the music in darkness. The melodies are great, and the band has a unique harmony that pulls you into the songs.

1. Salt In Our Wounds
2. Heartache Every Moment
3. Lose You Tonight
4. In Joy And Sorrow
5. Pretending
6. Close To The Flame
7. Please Don't Let It Go
8. Beautiful
9. Don't Close Your Heart
10. Love You Like I Do

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?vjhymjnmyzf

Lars Frederiksen & the Bastards - S/T

This is perhaps my favorite side-project of all-time, only because Rancid is one of my favorite bands of all time. The way Lars crafts his music to convey so much emotion and belief in the things that he holds near and dear should be what every musician aspires to do when they write. This is some of the finest mix of rock that isn't already on a Rancid album. And yes, it is somewhat ironic that one of my favorite tracks wasn't even written by Lars, but by Billy Bragg. Enjoy.

1. Intro
2. Dead American
3. 6 Foot 5
4. To Have and Have Not
5. Army of Zombies
6. Campbell California
7. Wine and Roses
8. Anti-Social
9. Ten Plagues of Egypt
10. Leavin' Here
11. Subterranean
12. Sknux
13. Vietnam

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?u0j3conwzdi

Laredo - Bury for Growth

Right off the bat, I'll let you know that I think this album is absolutely amazing. This band was brought to my attention by "Sleep," and I'm all that much better off for the recommendation. The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that it's only seven tracks, but the length of most of them makes it a legitimate LP. The expansive instrumentation borders on post-rock, but the singers belie that genre-specific title and move it towards a deeper-toned Jesse Lacey-style of vocals, artistic and brash. The choruses are loud and echo through the rest of the band, which makes for a unique indie-punk feel. This is definitely a great, great find and I cannot recommend it enough.

1. Returning Gone
2. Ties
3. Dark
4. Rest
5. Growing
6. Delicate
7. YM

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ag3tj44wg5z

Happy Holidays from Sick Albums

From me to you and your family, Happy Holidays!

May your 2009 bring much love, joy, and of course, some Sick Albums.

Acceptance - Phantoms

Another decent request off the Cbox. This pop-punk album incorporates some indie-spaciness that is comparable to All-American Rejects or TAI... but without the heavy dose of sugar. It's actually a solid record, and I remember when it came out in 2k5, it had a lot of press as being one of the better albums of that year.

1. Take Cover
2. So Contagious
3. In Too Far
4. Letter, The
5. Different
6. Ad Astra Per Aspera - (instrumental)
7. This Conversation Is Over
8. Over You
9. Breathless
10. In the Cold
11. Permanent
12. Glory/Us Appearing

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?kzyomtzytwh

She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge

This post is for my buddy Lucas, who actually turned me onto this band last night. The first band that came to mind was Interpool, so if you dig Interpool, stop reading and get to downloading. For those of you who are new to either band, I'll try and provide a brief summary of the band's msuic: Nailing the sound is quite difficult, but I'll put it somewhere between new wave and goth dance. I don't know if the latter exists, but I think it paints a clear picture when you listen to the beat and they lyrical styling. Give it a whirl, I think you'll most definitely enjoy it. Especially if you're down for a little goth dance party. Thanks for the recommendation Bermey-bear!

1. Red Flags and Long Nights
2. These THings
3. I Don't Want to Fall in Love
4. Out of Control
5. Monologue
6. Broken Promises for Broken Hearts
7. Sister
8. Disconnect
9. Us
10. Someone Must Get Hurt
11. Tear You Apart
12. She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zgw0uzaqumk

Rx Bandits - Progress

At long last I return. Actually I never really left, but I bought a new harddrive and was having a hell of a time getting Time Machine to transfer all my music over without losing metadata. In any case, I'll get right on the broken links, and get to posting albums.

Rx Bandits have been a favorite of mine since the beginning, and I think this album was their first album to really take advantage of pretty good production. It seems to me that Ska-punk (skunk) is a difficult genre to produce because of the varying tones between bass, guitar, and horns. But the band continued with the energy they had with Halfway Between Here and There, and simply tightened up the sound to allow for more elements to squeeze in, but without the feeling of being overwhelmed.

1. Intro
2. VCG III
3. Consequential Apathy
4. Analog Boy
5. Get
6. All The Time
7. In All Rwanda's Glory
8. Babylon
9. Who Would've Thought
10. Status
11. Anyone But You
12. Nugget
13. Progress
14. Nothing's Sacred
15. Infection

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?l4nmiowimfy

Garden State - Soundtrack

Not only did Zach Braff create a brilliant movie with Garden State, but he assisted in crafting a surreal soundtrack that stands as one of the best collections of music to be gathered and melded into film. To hear the soundtrack alone is great enough, but to watch the movie and realize how each song lends itself to a particular scene to further the characters and emotion is quite uncanny, and is well deserving of it's Grammy for Best Soundtrack (2005). Plus, the soundtrack introduced me to Iron & Wine, which is one of my favorite acts around.

1. Don’t Panic by Coldplay
2. Caring Is Creepy by The Shins
3. In the Waiting Line by Zero 7
4. New Slang by The Shins
5. I Just Don't Think I'll Get Over You by Colin Hay
6. Blue Eyes by Cary Brothers
7. Fair by Remy Zero
8. One of These Things First by Nick Drake
9. Lebanese Blonde by Thievery Corporation
10. The Only Living Boy In New York by Simon & Garfunkel
11. Such Great Heights by Iron & Wine (Postal Service cover)
12. Let Go by Frou Frou

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gxzukaxgm4z

The Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good

Before I get to the album, one quick admin note: I've decided to forgo the normal "Best of 2008" list, because the more I dig into the past year, it becomes apparent that there are a ton of albums that I really enjoyed. But if you had me pick my favorite, hands down I would tell you The Gaslight Anthem's The '59 Sound.

Now for the main event: The Vandals delivered this punk rock goodness a few years back, and not only does the band create songs that are always funny and catchy, but they provide a great show to back it up. If you can get out and see them, I highly recommend it. But this album is probably one of my favorites from the band, individually still maintaining that 'edge,' but collectively coming together in some pretty sick harmony. The riffs are creative, and I think you'll enjoy it. At the very least, laugh a bit.

1. People That Are Going To Hell
2. Cafe 405
3. My Girlfriend's Dead
4. I Know, Huh?
5. Money's Not An Issue
6. I've Got an Ape Drape
7. If The Gov't Could Read My Mind
8. Too Much Drama
9. Come Out Fighting
10. Euro-Barge
11. F'D Up Girl
12. Idea For A Movie
13. OK
14. So Long, Farewell

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?yt2ijjjtyhb

Polar Bear Club - Somtimes Things Just Disappear

I got this off the "Best Of 2k8" recommendations, and this definitely makes my list (which I will post shortly). I heard about this band when they released their EP awhile back, but never really thought to follow-up on the rave reviews. To cut straight to the point: This is quality post-hardcore, and what my ears have been craving all year...it's just a shame that I'm only discovering them right now. I don't know how to put it any other way, they sound like a thicker I Am the Avalanche, just great all-around music.

1. Eat Dinner, Bury the Dog, and Run
2. Hollow Place
3. Bug Parade
4. Another Night in the Rock
5. Burned Out in a Jar
6. As 'twere the Mirror
7. Tried
8. Our Ballads
9. Heart Attacks at Thirty
10. Convince Me I'm Wrong

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?myu1lw0mmmz

Off With Their Heads - Hospitals

Unadulterated PUNK ROCK. There's nothing else to say, it's an EP: 15 and a half minutes of face pounding energy. Somehow through it all, they still incorporagte cohesion, message, and melody, which is amazing considering how quickly this record goes by. Sorry the picture is so small, couldn't find any better album art. Thanks for requesting this EP, it's awesome.

1. Die Today
2. Theme Song
3. S.O.S.
4. Your Child is Dead
5. Idiot
6. Hard to Admit
7. Heroin in NYC
8. Jackie Lee

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?3nxgkukmkyk

Arkells - Jackson Square

This Canadian rock outfit just released this album that has a definite rock 'n roll attiutde, but with a backwoods bluesy feel...somewhere between the CWK and Limbeck, with open chords and rhythmic beats that really speak volumes for their ability to come together with passion and energy. If you're not sucked in after the opening track, well then this album is probably not for you. But you should give it a shot, because it's solid all-around.

1. Deadlines
2. Pullin' Punches
3. Oh, The Boss Is Coming!
4. Ballad Of Hugo Chavez
5. Tragic Flaw
6. No Champagne Socialist
7. Abigail
8. Heart Of The City
9. I'm Not the Sun
10. The Choir
11. John Lennon
12. Blueprint

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wmi5yzwjonq

Google Ads and the Top Albums of the Year

Hey everyone, sorry I added the Google ads to the right, but other than the blogspot account, most of my hosting sites are being paid for (both to get the music, and then on the mediafire account to allow the massive amount of traffic each day). So instead of incurring all the cost, I'm going to use whatever little money I get to help defer those costs. Yeah, I know, I'm selling out to the man, but hey, money doesn't grow on trees and holiday season is coming up.

Oh, and I'm starting to compile my "Top Albums of '08" list, so leave a comment below and let me know which albums you think should be on it. I have a few on it already, but there was so much released that I don't want to leave anything out that I feel deserves to be on it.

More music is on the way as well.

Counting Crows - August & Everything After

Well, when this album came out I was 8 at the time, and the impact this release had on the music industry at the time was WAY beyond my comprehension. "Mr. Jones" put them on the map, and songs like "Omaha" and "Rain King" have kept the record pretty popular even after all these years. As far as mainstream successes, Counting Crows are definitely one of my favorites, and although I have not seen them live, it's definitely one show I'd want to see. Many of you probably know the hit tracks from the album, but you really have to get the entire thing to really appreciate it for what it's worth.

1. Round Here
2. Omaha
3. Mr Jones
4. Perfect Blue Buildings
5. Anna Begins
6. Time And Time Again
7. Rain King
8. Sullivan Street
9. Ghost Train
10. Raining in Baltimore
11. A Murder Of One

Link:
RIAA Nazis...

Right Away, Great Captain! - The Eventually Home

As the year winds down, I find myself pondering what the greatest releases of the year are...and every now and then, an artist will sneak one in right at the very end: enter Andy Hull's side project Right Away, Great Captain! Most of you know Hull as the voice behind Manchester Orchestra, and the album plays like a collection of Manchester acoustic b-sides. I don't mean that in a bad way either, they're convey more feeling since Hull relies upon nothing but the occasional chorus and his trusty acoustic. And on songs like "Once Like You," he REALLY breaks it down to the bare essentials: a few simple chords, and deeply personal lyrics. Definitely a consideration for one of the best albums of the year...

1. Down To Your Soul
2. Devil Dressed In Blue
3. Cutting Off The Blood To Ten
4. Once Like You
5. What A Pity
6. Father Brian Finn
7. Anna No
8. Memories On A Shore
9. I am a Vampire
10. I was a Cage

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ftcu21nmiyd

Rancid - Life Won't Wait

After ...And Out Come the Wolves, this was my second Rancid album I bought. For those of you who are just browsing the site and never knew, Rancid is definitely one of my favorite bands...ever. The mix of energy, emotion (not in the emo-sense, but raw EMOTION), melody, and raging guitars are amazing. But the coup de grace are Lars and Tim's back-and-forth lyrics, constantly providing a rich and full backdrop to the lyrics. This album is great, not as hardcore as other Rancid albums, but displaying their ability to move from ska to reggae to more of a traditional punk. Regardless of who you are, chances are you'll enjoy this music.

1. Intro
2. Bloodclot
3. Hoover Street
4. Black Lung
5. Life Won't Wait
6. New Dress
7. Warsaw
8. Hooligans
9. Crane Fist
10. Leicester Square
11. Backslide
12. Who Would've Thought
13. Cash, Culture And Violence
14. Cocktails
15. The Wolf
16. 1998
17. Lady Liberty
18. Wrongful Suspicion
19. Turntables
20. Something Wrong
21. Corazon De Oro
22. Coppers

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?fmlhz2jytmm

Dustin Kensrue - This Good Night is Still Everywhere

Christmas reminds me of home, so when I hear Christmas music, I know that going home is just around the corner. Dustin Kensrue, on the other hand, reminds me of...well, alt-country, which I also like. And when Dustin Kensrue covers some Christmas songs? It's a pretty happy day in my life. Kensrue really delivers on this album, but how could he not? It's a Christmas album. In any case, it's cold outside, snowed yesterday, and it's fairly early in the morning, so this album is pretty much perfect for the mood I'm in right now.

1. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
2. Christmas Blues
3. Blue Christmas
4. Fairytale of New York
5. This Good Night Is Still Everywhere
6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
7. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
8. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
9. O Holy Night
10. This Is War

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?nzl4mogwfn0

Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops

I had never heard of this band until someone had pointed them out on the shout box to the left (yes, I do read those comments), and I must say, this is a great find. Granted this album is sort of old ('06), it still has an ambient rock quality that I'd like to compare to the Silversun Pickups. The band does well with their particular niche in rock, calm vocals and tightly collected riffs and drums. There's no preview track since each one is roughly 10MB+, and my limit is six for individual songs. But again, think Silversun Pickups. Or hit up Myspace.

1. Alone, Jealous and Stoned
2. All at Once (It's Not Important)
3. Lightning Blue Eyes
4. Daddy's in the Doldrums
5. I Hate Pretending
6. Faded Lines
7. I Want to Know if It's Still Possible
8. 1,000 Seconds

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?fgygnmngdiy

Various - All Aboard: A Tribute to Johnny Cash

I'm a pretty big fan of the Man in Black, and most of the bands on this album as well. To surmise it without going into great detail of every track, some bands/artists take the more traditional approach to covers (Chon Travis "Folsom Prison Blues" and Joe McMahon "Let the Train Whistle Blow") while others come up with unique takes on classics, like the Gaslight Anthem and the Dresdon Dolls. Familiar voices abound, and all-in-all, it's a great listen.

1. Man In Black: The Bouncing Souls
2. Country Boy: Fallen From The Sky
3. Wreck Of The Old ’97: Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music)
4. Let The Train Whistle Blow: Joe McMahon (Smoke or Fire)
5. Delia’s Gone: Ben Nichols (Lucero)
6. God’s Gonna Cut You Down: The Gaslight Anthem
7. Cocaine Blues: The Loved Ones
8. Give My Love To Rose: OnGuard (feat. Jason Shevchuk of Kid Dynamite and None More Black)
9. I Still Miss Someone: Casey James Prestwood (Hot Rod Circuit)
10. Hey Porter: MxPx
11. Cry,Cry,Cry: The Flatliners
12. Ballad of a Teenage Queen: The Dresden Dolls feat. Franz Nicolay of The Hold Steady
13. Folsom Prison Blues: Chon Travis (Love = Death)
14. There You Go: The Sainte Catherines
15. I Walk The Line: Russ Rankin (Good Riddance, Only Crime)

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?yg1gnzndamz

Chris Wollard - & the Ship Thieves

Chris Wollard is an indie-folk singer/songwriter whom many of you know from Hot Water Music (a personal favorite of mine). On this, his first solo album, he takes the best of southern rock and combines it with his own personality and tonality to create a great, great alt-country album that's perfect for just kicking back and tapping your foot. Definitely a solid all-around album, and I'm glad you guys pointed me in this direction. On a genre-related note, I'll have up the Johnny Cash tribute tomorrow morning.

1. No Exception
2. Reason in My Rhyme
3. Same to You
4. In the Middle of the Sea
5. Up to the Moon
6. All the Things You Know
7. Oh Whatever
8. You Always Leave
9. The High Water
10. Hey B

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wtjufodlzzy

Jimmy Eat World - Clarity

Classic JEW, before the craze of being on MTV and movie soundtracks. Really though, the band hits up more emo-enthused tracks and relies on quiet harmonies (vice the faster paced Bleed American. It really is remarkable how the entire album can be one long mixtape, so if you're looking for a solid emo-record that isn't over-produced and has a that homely feeling, look no further than here.

1. Table for Glasses
2. Lucky Denver Mint
3. Your New Aesthetic
4. Believe in What You Want
5. A Sunday
6. Crush
7. 12.23.95
8. Ten
9. Just Watch the Fireworks
10. For Me This Is Heaven
11. Blister
12. Clarity
13. Goodbye Sky Harbor

Link:
Comments

SORRY!!!

Friends, fear not, I am not dead. I've just been inundated with work, but I'm basically going to be sitting in front of my computer handling requests and posting all weekend. Comment on some stuff you'd want me to find for you. Thanks for your patience, and keep rocking.

ps: A Fine Frenzy was taken down within a day of being posted, which I think is some sort of record. Usually it takes about a week, but the link is in the top right.

AFI - The Art of Drowning

By far this is my favorite AFI album, and I'm a pretty big fan of AFI. This record served as a transition album as the band moved from a hardcore fast-paced punk to a more alternative-punk sound and combines the unique sound of each branch into a nicely packaged into a 41 minute song-fest. There's so many good songs, I only picked the one that was playing at the moment for the preview, but you could pick any of them and chances are you'll like it.

1. Initiation
2. Lost Souls, The
3. Nephilim, The
4. Ever And A Day
5. Sacrifice Theory
6. Of Greetings And Goodbyes
7. Smile
8. A Story At Three
9. Days Of The Phoenix
10. Catch A Hot One
11. Wester
12. 6 To 8
13. Despair Factor, The
14. Morningstar

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?4eunwziiok0

Smoke or Fire - This Sinking Ship

I forget where I first heard them, but it was a few years ago and I can't believe that I haven't posted this yet. I've had this band on rotation for a couple years now, partly because they're what I grew up listening to and every time I put it on, it's like a throwback to the olden days. It's basically punk rock with a melodic hook, a la Rise Against or newer Anti-Flag. Full choruses and harmonic riffs keep the record focused around the vocals, while the beat plow a path of energy throughout the entire album. Amazing, amazing record.

1. What Seperates Us All
2. Patty Hearst Syndrome, The
3. Melatonin
4. This Sinking Ship
5. Irish Handcuffs
6. Little Bohemia
7. I'll Be Gone
8. Shine
9. Breadwinner
10. Life Imitating Art
11. Cars
12. Folding The Pages

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?nlmgmyhtiml

Bright Eyes - Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Yes, I know, more indie. But the masses have spoken, and this was requested. People either like or hate Mr. Oberst's Bright Eyes. Perosnally, I like the raw feel of his songs, invientive lyrics, and the way he constructs vignettes within the confines of each track. This album in particular encapsulates his classic slow-to-quick tempo, and the accompanying vocals only furthers the story he's trying to push through your speakers. To me, this is by far the best Bright Eyes album released to date.

1. The Big Picture
2. Method Acting
3. False Advertising
4. You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will.
5. Lover I Don't Have To Love
6. Bowl Of Oranges
7. Don't Know When But A Day Is Gonna Come
8. Nothing Gets Crossed Out
9. Make War
10. Waste Of Paint
11. From A Balance Beam
12. Laura Laurent
13. Let's Not Sh*t Ourselves (To Love And To Be Loved)

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?2ddydzieznz

Page France - ...And the Family Telephone

Page France's final record abounds with warm, indie tones, with Michael Nau's singing providing the last bit to finish off the traditional folk feel of most of the songs. Trumpets and xylophones are used to accent the rest of the band, and are well placed throughout the record. I'd have to say the first band that comes to mind is the Moldy Peaches, but a bit more serious. If you like fun indie-folk, you may just like Page France.

1. Ruby Ring Man
2. Wet Dog Afternoon
3. Mr. Violin and Dancing Bear
4. Be My Pianist
5. Pigeons
6. Hat and Rabbit
7. Belly to the Sea
8. Belly in the Fish
9. Rooster and Its Crow
10. Joker's Joke
11. Here's a Telephone
12. Beggar's Table Legs
13. Circus Head (Nobody Knows)
14. Casting Day

Link: FIXED
http://www.mediafire.com/?d4zj2nnnlym

Lovedrug - The Sucker Punch Show

It's melodic with the sharp stab of heavy guitars and quick riffs that make this a larger mix of indie/new-grunge/pop that expands on the nice base that they've already built on Everything Starts Where it Ends. Michael Shepard's voice is reminiscent of a deeper Gerard Way and a few of the songs sort of sound like a smattering of MCR, the CWK, and the White Stripes. I only had Pretend You're Alive, and personally I think it' much better, both stylistically and production-wise.

1. Let It All Out
2. Only One
3. Blood Like
4. Everyone Needs a Halo
5. The Dirtiest Queen
6. Borrowed Legs
7. Broken Home
8. Fake Angels
9. My World
10. Hante’ Bruit
11. Panicked Witness
12. Dying Days

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zzoqzidn2x2

I need some help from everyone...

Sorry everyone, I went home and left my laptop at school, so that explains the lack of posts over the last four days. I'll be back tomorrow with some unfulfilled requests and some stuff of my own.

As for YOU helping ME: I'm trying to put together a mixtape for a lady friend of mine, and I was just wondering what songs you'd add to one, or what you've used in the past. It can be indie, punk, emo, rap, rock, etc. Please, please help me out by leaving a song in the comment section! Thanks, and I promise more stuff tomorrow.

Against Me! - Searching for a Former Clarity

This album, when it was released, became this band's big break. The popularity of "Don't Lose Touch" could be heard everywhere, and I remember watching MTV one day (and no, I don't do that anymore), and almost spitting out my drink when I saw their video for that song. Gabel really shines on this album, and his distinct singing/yelling plays well in songs like "Even at Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most" and "Unprotected Sex with Multiple Partners." The latter just has a certain beat that gets stuck in your head and makes you want to get up and do something (much like "Don't Lose Touch"). If you want a pick-me-up, snag it.

1. Miami
2. Mediocrity Gets You Pears (The Shaker)
3. Justin" – 3:57
4. Unprotected Sex With Multiple Partners
5. From Her Lips To God's Ears (The Energizer)
6. Violence
7. Pretty Girls (The Mover)
8. How Low
9. Joy
10. Holy Shit!
11. Even At Our Worst We're Still Better Than Most (The Roller)
12. Problems
13. Don't Lose Touch
14. Searching For A Former Clarity

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zkdhovzwycd

This Providence - The Sunday Best EP

This Providence puts together some sugary pop-punk (think Simple Plan), but I chose to post this album over their others because I feel like it has a more unfinished edge to it that sounds like it was recorded before pop-punk really took off. It really does have a demo-like quality to it that bares some honesty in the music and how the band pieces everything together. For the most part, it's catchy and you may find yourself liking the vintage, off-key pop-punk feel of it. Oh, and I couldn't find album artwork larger than 100 pixels, so I just threw in one of the band.

1. Alpha
2. The Missing Page
3. Is This Life?
4. My Dream Is You
5. Picture Day
6. Taking Back Control
7. I Think Youre Wonderful
8. Contradictions
9. Omega

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?olm4mrnyfzm

God is an Astronaut - God is an Astronaut

If there's one thing I can never get tired of, it's post-rock. GIAA returns with their fourth album, which actually packs a little more punch than previous efforts. Other than Explosions in the Sky, GIAA is one of my favorite bands of the genre, and actually one of my favorite bands period. There are no limits on their musical ability, and they transition from one thematic element to another effortlessly, from soothing to cruching without skipping a beat. Because there is a lack of lyrics, the band relies solely on musical talent, and somehow GIAA breathtakingly conveys the same energy and emotion as they did on their first album. To me, that level of musicianship is the most impressive part.

1. Shadows
2. Post Mortem
3. Echoes
4. Snowfall
5. First Day Of Sun
6. No Return
7. Zodiac
8. Remaining Light
9. Shores Of Orion
10. Loss

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?dkozy2lgmij

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Since Nicole said "pretty please" I decided to hop on this one first. Don't worry, more albums are on the way.

This band is pretty much as simplistic as a full-band can get, and I love it. The rhymthm and tempo are varied as much as the lyrics, but for the most part, the guitar riffs hold it all together. And it's all pretty minimalistic in nature. I'm backed up on requests, so I'll leave it up to you to determine whether or not you like it, but I'm telling you, if you enjoy the lighter, subtle reggae-influenced side of music, you might find it pleasing.

1. Mansard Roof
2. Oxford Comma
3. A-Punk
4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
5. M79
6. Campus
7. Bryn
8. One (Blake’s Got A New Face)
9 I Stand Corrected
10. Walcott
11. The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?z3hzhgjd1nj

Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want to Be

I've been trying to stray away from the conventional albums, but this one was another easy request to fulfill and I found myself listening to it a few days ago. This is an awesome album, definitely one that has its fair share of playtime on the iPod. I would say the thing that stands out the most is the harmony between Fred Mascherino's riffs and vocals, which then bounce off of Adam Lazzara's own vocals. It's not as rough as Tell All Your Friends, but for a sophomore album, it's quite impressive.

1. Set Phasers to Stun
2. Bonus Mosh Pt. II
3. A Decade Under the Influence
4. This Photograph Is Proof (I Know You Know)
5. The Union
6. New American Classic
7. I Am Fred Astaire
8. One-Eighty by Summer
9. Number Five with a Bullet
10. Little Devotional
11. ...Slowdance on the Inside

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?3gimjmyfo2h

Circa Survive - Juturna

Anthony Green is pretty much a brilliant singer-songwriter who has many side-projects/projects, but if one were to narrow down his masterpiece, Juturna would probably be it (at least in my opinion). Musical genres are smashed together on this album, from experimental to post-hardcore and the dissonance between voice, riff, and beat regins supreme, which lends itself to more of a mathcore feel that pushes the progressive atmosphere through each track. The cacophony by itself is enough to keep you listening, with its rises and falls that seem to keep in time with the breath of the album, and Green's vocals are there to make sure that you won't stop.

1. Holding Someone's Hair Back
2. Act Appaled
3. Wish Resign
4. The Glorious Nosebleed
5. In Fear And Faith
6. The Great Golden Baby
7. Stop The Fucking Car
8. We're All Theives
9. Oh. Hello
10. Always Getting What You Want
11. Meet Me In Montauk
12. (Hidden Track) House Of Leaves (Blues)

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?wgw03momzzn

The Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!

I was introduced to these guys on one of the Fat Wreck Chords compilations, and have been a huge fan ever since. I even saw them live when they opened up for Alkaline Trio down in Los Angeles in 2006. I was impressed with the musicianship, not only on their studio albums, but during their live shows as well. The vocal trade-offs between Chris McCaughan and Brenden Kelly highlight the intensity the band projects on every song. It's the kind of punk rock I wish more bands in life would strive to create.


1. The Devil’s Takin’ Names
2. Cut It Up
3. Great Lakes/Great Escapes
4. Recovering The Opposable Thumb
5. Beyond The Embarassing Style
6. Are You There Margaret? It’s Me, God
7. Jumping The Shark
8. Lose Your Illusion 1
9. Requiem Revisted
10. Key To The City
11. Old Dogs Never Die
12. Like A Record Player
13. The Rabbit and The Rooster

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?qzzqljzlmym

H2O - Thicker than Water

For some reason, I've been listening to this album for YEARS, and it never seems to get quite old. This is perhaps H2O's best release to date, and Everready is up there on my favorite punk songs of all-time list. I remember coming home from school and throwing this album on before skating over to my buddy Colin's house, only to throw it on there. Seriously, nothing like a good punk rock kick to the ears to get you going. And I digress...the music is classic skate punk, and the lyrics and guitars are timeless. It's 11 years old and still going strong...

1. Universal Language
2. Everready
3. Talk Too Much
4. I See It in Us
5. Sacred Heart
6. Innocent Kids
7. Scarred
8. Go
9. This Time
10. Friend"
11. A Plus
12. Phone Song
13. Responsible
14. Wake Up
15. Thicker Than Water
16. No Fucking Tears

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ryhi0hhqz1y

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. - Searching for the How's and Why's

Englishman Sam Duckworth, the talent behind the cleverly named Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly., created an album easily blends his acoustic tracks with others that incorporate a fuller band sound. Indie artists that come to mind are The City and Colour and Stephen Fretwell, and a lighter version of Coconut Records. I think the most impressive thing is that he takes the electronic drum machines and production values of a more expansive band sound and compresses it down to fit the indie-vibe of the record.

1. Let the Journey Begin
2. Waiting for the Monster to Drown
3. Young and Lovestruck
4. Postcards from Catalunya
5. The Children Are (the Consumers of) the Future
6. Window of Your Mind
7. I Could Build You a Tower
8. Interlude
9. Keep Singing Out
10. Moving Forward
11. Find the Time
12. This Could Be All
13. Better Things
14. Could've Seen It All

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?egmzt1kydnz

The Virgins - The Virgins LP / The Virgins EP

After a quick first listen, the first two bands that pop into my head are somewhere between a more electronics-backed Fountains of Wayne, or a more-indie rock Cobra Starship, depending on the song. I've been working on this stupid project for the past 3 hours, and I must say, the beat of this album has kept me going for the last half hour or so...it's that good. Catchy choruses that flows with the rhythms, and right now that combo is getting me through all this work. Good request from Jamie, it's pretty much made my night.

1. She's Expensive
2. One Week of Danger
3. Rich Girls
4. Teen Lovers
5. Fernando Pando
6. Murder
7. Hey Hey Girl
8. Private Affair
9. Radio Christiane
10. Love is Colder than Death

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gkzy5n4jk4m

BONUS LINK - The Virgins EP:


Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ondm5yz2dyw

The Killers - Hot Fuss

I'm hitting up this request during a break from work because (1) it's been a few days since I've updated the blog, and I feel like an asshole when I feel like I leave you guys with nothing to listen to and (2) I already have it. Most of you probably have this album, or don't like The Killers. I, personally, think this album is great. Despite the "radio friendly" songs-for-the-masses, I think it's genius and was one of my favorite albums for a long time. Although I've heard Mr. Brightside a million times, I still sing along everytime. Aside from Avril Lavigne, this band is probably my secret pop-vice. And now that I said this on the blog, it's probably not that big of a secret anymore.

1. Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
2. Mr. Brightside
3. Smile Like You Mean It
4. Somebody Told Me
5. All These Things That I've Done
6. Andy, You're a Star
7. On Top
8. Change Your Mind
9. Believe Me Natalie
10. Midnight Show
11. Everything Will Be Alright

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?jknwzojjzmv

Tom Gabel - Heart Burns EP

Tom Gabel's (Against Me!) solo-album: familiar voice...yet oddly different beat. There's the distorted guitar, but a drum machine as well, with a heavy emphasis on the kick of the electronic bass. It seriously is a clash of old school country-punk and modern electronics. But somehow, perhaps since Gabel is a genius, he makes it work...quite well actually. Don't get me wrong, there are some traditional acoustic tracks that you expect on a solo-record, but the majority is electronically supported. The album is short (just 7 tracks), but hits up on all the classic Against Me! topics, mostly heartache and politics.

1. Random Hearts
2. Conceptual Paths
3. Cowards Sing At Night
4. Amputations
5. Anna Is A Stool Pigeon
6. Harsh Realms
7. 100 Years Of War

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?xnybmnimmm2

Latterman - No Matter Where We Go...!

This album has been around for quite awhile (long enough for the band to have broken up since it was released), but for some stupid reason, I had never paid it much attention. To sum up what I'm about to write for the next few sentence: THIS IS AWESOME. It's been awhile since I've discovered a band that takes the scene's "status quo," tweaks it a bit, and comes up with something that establishes a new baseline for bands to follow (I like to think I Am the Avalanche was the last group to do so). Latterman did that with this album. The record itself has just the right balance of production and raw recording, which I personally find very important. Phil Douglas seems to throw his vocals over the tight cohesion of the rest of the band, which wraps everything into a gritty package full of energy. I'm actually kinda pissed that it took me so long to realize how good this album really is, and the fact that I've had it for about a year and a half. If you like The Movielife/I am the Avalanche, I highly recommend getting this. Actually, if you like punk, you should get this.

1. My Bedroom is Like for Artists, Part 2
2. Doom! Doom! Doom!
3. Yo, Get Into It
4. This Project is Stagnant (Get it Out of My Face)
5. Dear Boys,
6. An Ode to Jon Contra, Part 2
7. Fear and Loathing on Long Island
8. Video Games and Fantasy Novels are Fucking Awesome!
9. Zombies are Pissed
10. We're Done For
11. I Wish Branca was Here
12. My Bedroom is Like for Artists

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?eg4njne1ykj

Sleepercar - West Texas

Jim Ward's (ATDI/Sparta) foray into alt-country. YES, I realize I've been posting a ton of the genre lately (for about the past month), but punk rock is soon to come, I promise. Anyways, Ward incorporates some lap steel guitar and other instruments indigenous to country music, as well as riffs and chords that support the tone of the record. To best describe it, think of it as Dustin Kensrue's record, plus a ton of instrumentation and production. It's apparent that Ward put a lot of time and effort into this record, and it shows.

1. A Broken Promise
2. Wasting My Time
3. Fences Down
4. Wednesday Nights
5. Kings & Compromises
6. Heavy Weights
7. Sound the Alarm
8. End of a Year
9. You Should Run
10. All Will End Well
11. Stumble In

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?erycrjzwkyy

Be back Friday...

Hey everyone, I'm going to be gone until Friday, but keep leaving the requests and I'll try and fulfill them over the weekend. The blog reached the 100,000 hit mark this week, which is awesome. Thanks for those that have left comments and requests; each time you do, you expand my musical horizon and I've discovered a ton of cool bands and albums because of you. Blogger/DMCA have been having a field day with the blog, so any links that were taken down are now in the top right corner, as well as any broken links.

Till Friday,
Lucas

Greg Laswell - Three Flights from Alto Nido

Acoustic singer-songwriter from San Diego, California who fits in with the last couple weeks of posts on the blog. Reminds me of Matt Costa, although a little less pep and more soulful songs. Some of it borders on the edge of Coldplay-esque, but overall, he writes good stuff with catchy choruses.

1. It’s Been A Year
2. That It Moves
3. The One I Love
4. Comes and Goes (In Waves)
5. How The Day Sounds
6. Sweet Dream
7. Days Go On
8. I’d Be Lying
9. Farewell
10. Not Out
11. And Then You

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?hmqmnjzzwij

Blackpool Lights - This Town's Disaster (FIXED LINK)

I've had this for awhile now, but never really thought of posting it until today. It was actually one of the albums I spent weeks looking for, since it's basically the remnants of the Get Up Kids (minus Mr. Pryor), and I like the Get Up Kids. This album has more indie-rock elements than a pop-punk emo like the GUK (think more of a Limbeck). If you were to put an GUK-era to it, I'd say something on the lines of On a Wire would most match this album. If you're a fan of the Get Up Kids, I'd say grab this.

1. This Town's Disaster
2. Blue Skies
3. Empty Tank
4. Maybe Just Maybe
5. It's Never About What It's About
6. The Truth About Love
7. Goodnight Romance
8. Crash Sounds
9. Cursed By Yourself
10. Lost Without You
11. Unlucky

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?qm2ddto1nw2

Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel the Illinoise (FIXED LINK)

Sufjan Steven's highly acclaimed concept album from 2005 (He was planning on doing an album for each state of the union)...I mean, it could also double as a soundtrack to a movie about Illinois. It's essentially 22 tracks of indie-packed goodness, including some instrumentals, that carries well with his talented vocal tracks. Dig it.

1. Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
2. The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire Civilization And Still Feel Good About Yourself In
3. Come On! Feel The Illinoise!: Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition/Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits
4. John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
5. Jacksonville
6. A Short Reprise For Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But For Very Good Reasons
7. Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother!
8. One Last 'Whoo-Hoo!' For The Pullman
9. Chicago
10. Casimir Pulaski Day
11. To The Workers Of The Rock River Valley Region, I Have An Idea Concerning Your Predicament
12. The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
13. Prairie Fire That Wanders About
14. A Conjunction Of Drones Simulating The Way In Which Sufjan Stevens Has An Existential Crisis In The
15. The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!
16. They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh!
17. Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All The Way Out In Bushnell
18. In This Temple As In The Hearts Of Man For Whom He Saved The Earth
19. The Seer's Tower
20. The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders: Part I: The Great Frontier/Part II: Come To Me Only With Pl
21. Riffs And Variations On A Single Note For Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, And T
22. Out Of Egypt, Into The Great Laugh Of Mankind, And I Shake The Dirt From My Sandals As I Run

Link: Working as of 12/23/2008
http://www.mediafire.com/?zjjnonkzb1m

Immortal Technique - Revolutionary, Vol. 1

As requested (and it just needed to be posted at some point), Revolutionary, Vol. 1. Underground hip-hop, and one of the best freestyle rappers I've ever heard. His lyrics are brutally honest and thought-provoking, and I highly recommend you grab this if you even remotely like any sort of hip-hop.

1. Creation & Destruction
2. Dominant Species
3. Positive Balance
4. The Getaway
5. Beef & Broccoli
6. No Me Importa
7. Top of the Food Chain [Remix]
8. The Poverty of Philosophy
9. Revolutionary
10. Spend Some Time [Remix]
11. Dance With the Devil
12. The Prophecy
13. Understand Why
14. No Mercy
15. The Illest
16. Speak Your Mind [*]

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?yyjzjtzwztm

Glassjaw - Worship and Tribute

Before there was Head Automatica, there was Glassjaw, and to be honest, I haven't listened to this band since probably late 2003-ish. This was their second album, and the one right before they went on "hiatus." It encompasses a little more production quality than Everything You Wanted to Know About Silence, but still maintained the post-hardcore energy of that album. It's quick, and a great listen to get the blood moving.

1. Tip Your Bartender
2. Mu Empire
3. Cosmopolitan Bloodloss
4. Ape Dos Mil
5. Pink Roses
6. Must've Run All Day
7. Stuck Pig
8. Radio Cambodia
9. The Gillette Cavalcade of Sports
10. Trailer Park Jesus
11. Two Tabs of Mescaline
12. Convectuso

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?jdzixwnzhgn

Broken Links, Requests, and Updates...

-UPDATE 19 OCT: So my harddrive crashed, so I'm kinda using my backup right now. As soon as I get things fixed (probably tomorrow), I'll get albums up. Sorry and thanks for the patience. Also, I guess the track previews were set in my private folder on my host site, so I updated that to make it available to everyone. Let me know if it still doesn't work. Hope everyone had a good weekend.

-UPDATE 15 OCT: Fixed the Offspring link.

-UPDATE 14 OCT: So, as you can see, the Copeland link was deleted both by Blogspot and Mediafire. I'll see what I can do about it in the comments section below. Check back later tonight.

-UPDATE 9 OCT: Blogspot must've taken down the GCH-Quilt post, because it's nowhere to be found on my editing page but I'll put the link in the comments below. And some of the links were down because I was over my bandwidth for the month, so I bought more to rectify that situation. Everything should be good now. I also just added the new CWK album that was removed. And for the future:

ANY PASSWORD-PROTECTED ZIP FILES WILL BE: sickalbums

Hey everyone, I've been busy with the requests, so keep them coming, it makes it easier to post when people request stuff because despite the tons of music I have, it's sometimes hard to narrow it down. The Rocking Horse Winner link is fixed, and let me know either through email, reply here, or on the shoutbox if there are any other links that are broken.




...Lucas

The Weepies - Say I am You

Fulfilling a request with this one (I'll get on Illinoise ,which I thought I had, later). This is actually a perfect album to be requested since I'm heading to bed and it's a classic indie-folk album. I know, I've been posting a lot of alt-country/indie/folk lately, but I've been in the mood for it, and based on the requests, so have many of you. But yes, the husband-wife pairing of Deb Talan and Steve Tannen make a great combination of heartfelt music and lyrics that mesh together like only a married couple could produce. That being said, if you're having a crappy time with a significant other, I highly not recommend listening to this album because it will only further your depression/angst. Oh, and I put the fixed album links to the top-right to make it easy.

1. Take It from Me
2. Gotta Have You
3. World Spins Madly On
4. Citywide Rodeo
5. Riga Girls
6. Suicide Blonde
7. Painting By Chagall
8. Nobody Knows Me at All
9. Not Your Year
10. Living in Twilight
11. Stars
12. Love Doesn't Last Too Long
13. Slow Pony Home

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ievinxnkmyg

Tim Barry - Manchester

This punk-rock veteran released his solo album that moves away from the punk tempo and into an alt-country rhythm (think Rocky Votolato meets Johnny Cash). Simple and honest, his lyrics reverberate just as truthfully as Avail's as he tackles social and political problems that are running rampant throughout the world.

1. Texas Cops
2. On and On
3. South Hill
4. 5 Twenty 5
5. This November
6. Sagacity Gone
7. Ronnie Song
8. C. R. F. (Retired)
9. Tacoma
10. Tile Work
11. "222"
12. Raised and Grown

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?e0rmtnlzm0z

Ninja Gun - Restless Rubes

Rock with folk undertones, kinda reminds me of Augustana, minus pianos and more harmonica and blues/country riffs. It's really quite relaxing, a really good listen. Glad someone requested it...

1. Restless Rubes
2. Eight Miles Out
3. Red State Blues
4. Darwin was a Baptist
5. Front Yard Screamers (Kitchen Kissers)
6. Life is Loud
7. Asking Price
8. Nostradumbass
9. Security
10. The Last Cowboy
11. Permanent Press
12. Breaking Light of Day

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?nmyktwhytnw