Please, BUY THIS ALBUM!

I know what you're thinking..."what, no free download? WTF!?" Well ladies and gentlemen, my good friend Doug has his own legitimate music/art site called Simple Stereo and he had our friend Kevin got together to create a cover for Mike Park's new EP. The collaboration has resulted in a limited edition 7" signed by both Mike and Kevin. And it's super cheap (9 dollars total including S&H). I mean, you probably haven't BOUGHT music for the past few weeks, months (or years), so cough up $9 and get some great music and a nice piece of art to show your friends. Now for a little soapbox action: My biggest regret about posting albums is the fact that much of the packaging and artwork is lost by the advent and distribution of the mp3. At the end of the day, it's just a bunch of little pixels on my monitor, and there's something to be said about holding a vinyl record, or flipping through the jacket of a CD. Take some of that back by buying this album, supporting my friends, and supporting the smaller side of the music industry.

Click the ad to the right, or here, and snag it through Paypal. It ships on Sept. 9th, so pre-order one of the 500 signed copies now. Thanks for reading, and thanks for listening. AND IT COMES WITH A FREE MP3 VERSION OF THE ALBUM! The capitalization denotes how excited I am about this, because it's awesome that old school creativity meets honest, genuine music.

-Lucas

The Academy Is... - Fast Times at Barrington High

So, their previous effort, Santi, was an utter disaster. Over-hyped and unfulfilling, the album seemed to be forced and was too "studio-produced." So the fact that their newest effort has flown under the radar was a welcome sign as soon as I had found it. In fact, until I stumbled upon it, I had no idea that they had a new album coming out. The best thing about this album is that it revisits what made "Almost Here" so great, catchy hooks and riffs.

1. About A Girl
2. Summer Hair = Forever Young
3. His Girl Friday
4. The Test
5. Rumored Nights
6. Automatic Eyes
7. Crowded Room
8. Coppertone
9. After The Last Midnight Show
10. Beware! Cougar!
11. Paper Chase
12. One More Weekend

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?xnygyeg54v4

Matt Pryor - Confidence Man

While it may seem like Matt Pryor's new solo album should have fallen in the realm of the New Amsterdams (since its very inception was to be used as an outlet for songs that wouldn't have worked well with the GUK/full band), he is officially on his own as an independent artist. Leaning heavily on country roots, Pryor strums on his trusty acoustic for 15 simple tracks. Nothing too fancy, sort of reminiscent of Dustin Kensrue's solo-project. I had a hell of a time finding it, so I thought I'd share it with you.

1. A Totally New Year
2. Loralai
3. Still, There's a Light
4. When The World Stops Turning
5. I'm Sorry Stephen
6. We'll Be Fine
7. Confidence Man
8. I Wouldn't Change a Thing
9. Only
10. Dear Lover
11. Lovers Who Have Lost Their Cause
12. Where Did I Go Wrong?
13. On How Our Paths Differ
14. Who Do You Think You Are?
15. It Ends Here

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?jg1zme59ezi

Explosions in the Sky - The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place

My favorite post-rock band, and my favorite post-rock album. Great study music, just in time for the new school year.

1. First Breath After Coma
2. The Only Moment We Were Alone
3. Six Days At The Bottom Of The Ocean
4. Memorial
5. Your Hand In Mine

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?7p2xmtoknmd

Armchair Martian - Monsters Always Scream

Jon Snodgrass' amazing band before he formed Drag the River. Punk/Alt-Country, like Against Me! with more deep end.

1. The Statler Pat
2. John Wayne
3. Crestfallen
4. Armslength
5. Retardent
6. Jig
7. Fired
8. Dealing With
9. Martyr
10. Arson Car
11. Embrace The Sound
12. Fader
13. Car Lander
14. Hey Machine

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?zsed3tepjax

Lucero - Tennessee

A magnificent and honest alt-country album. Impressively simple, while at the same time displaying intricately woven riffs, beats, and lyrics.

01. Sweet Little Thing
02. Slow Dancing
03. Nights Like These
04. Ain't So Lonely
05. Old Sad Songs
06. Chain Link Fence
07. Fistful of Tears
08. Last Song
09. When You're Gone
10. I'll Just Fall
11. Here at the Starlite
12. Darby's Song
13. Into Your Eyes

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?gljzpdj42jn

Manchester Orchestra - I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child

Sorry for the hiatus. Indie-rock in the style somewhere between The Shins and Straylight Run.

1. "Wolves at Night"
2. "Now That You're Home"
3. "The Neighborhood is Bleeding"
4. "I Can Feel Your Pain"
5. "Where Have You Been?"
6. "I Can Barely Breathe"
7. "Sleeper 1972"
8. "Golden Ticket"
9. "Alice and Interiors"
10. "Don't Let Them See You Cry"
11. "Colly Strings"

Link:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bjnoxdedgz0