Free Friday (“FL&R”) - September 30

     Free and Legal Downloads? Yes, at least temporarily. Bands often temporarily permit free downloads of their releases.  The end of an offer is usually based on the expiration of a set period of time.  But at least for now, here are songs that qualify as Free, Legal and Recommended (FL&R) downloads.

     Finding songs that can be legally downloaded is easy. The difficult task is to find legally downloadable music that we recommend. The hope is to post FL&R songs each Friday.

     Cardinal Kings are an Indie Rock trio in the UK. The members are George Carder (vocals, guitar), Matt Sledge (bass), and Jack Carder (drums). George and Jack are brothers. Currently, they are allowing downloads of “Wait” on a “name your price” basis.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecardinalkings/

Website: http://www.thecardinalkings.com/

     Dark Mean is also a trio, but this one is Canadian. They are based in Hamilton, Ontario. The members are Billy Holmes, Sandy Johnston and Mark Dean. They are currently permitting downloads of “Settle Down” on a “name your price” basis.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkmeanband/

Website: http://www.darkmean.com/

     Human in Bloom comprises Arty Florea, Alfio Caracciolo, Giovanni Cresseri, and Elliot Coombs. They identify the band’s hometown as London.

     “Late Ol’ Night” by Human in Bloom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humaninbloom

Throwback Thursday - “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

     The song writing was motivated by a September 1982 event, while the video was motivated by a September 2001 event. And in the below Soundcloud version of “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” the performance is dedicated to a September 2004 event (Johnny Ramone's death).

     “Wake Me Up When September Ends” was written by the frontman of Green Day (Billie Joe Armstrong) in memory of his father, who lost his battle with cancer on September 1, 1982. Billie Joe was ten years old at the time. Sources assert that after the funeral, Billie Joe locked himself in his room and told his family, “Wake me up when September ends.” 

     The lyrics include “Like my father’s come to pass, seven years has gone so fast.” Seven years after his father’s passing, Billie Joe joined forces with bandmate Mike Dirnt under their original band name, Sweet Children. The later statement “Like my father's come to pass, twenty years has gone so fast” is a reference to the anniversary at the writing of the song. It was written in 2002, but released two years later.

Other songs that were motivated by the deaths of their fathers include:

“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” by U2/Bono

"Hurt" by Christina Aguilera

“Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics

“Leader of the Band” by Dan Fogelberg

“Father” by Demi Lovato

     The video for “Wake Me Up When September Ends” was intended to reflect the reaction to the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers, as well as the television recruiting for soldiers. Despite vowing to never leave her, the man volunteers for the armed forces. She is disappointed by his decision and his lack of disclosure to her. He is disappointed by her inability to recognize that his decision was based on protecting her. 

Lyrics of “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

Summer has come and passed

The innocent can never last

Wake me up when September ends.

Like my father’s come to pass

Seven years has gone so fast

Wake me up when September ends.

Here comes the rain again

Falling from the stars

Drenched in my pain again

Becoming who we are

As my memory rests

But never forgets what I lost

Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed

The innocent can never last

Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again

Like we did when spring began

Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again

Falling from the stars

Drenched in my pain again

Becoming who we are

As my memory rests

But never forgets what I lost

Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed

The innocent can never last

Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass

Twenty years has gone so fast

Wake me up when September ends

Wake me up when September ends

Wake me up when September ends

“Never Go To Sleep” by Hey Way – A Song Review

     If there are still music lovers who hold the position that Dream Pop lacks substance, they would be well served to loop “Never Go To Sleep.” It’s not our “go to” genre, but it has its treasures. This is one.

     The song is on the self-titled album of Hey Way. As a whole, “Never Go To Sleep” isn’t minimalistic, but that’s a fair description of the individual parts. As examples, the drums and piano instrumentally drive the song during the first segment, but each has a beauty in its simplicity. Much later, the guitar enters with a shoegaze vibe, without the highly dynamic processing that is too often associated with the sound.

     Hey Way is the duo of Søren Corneliussen and Hasse Mydtskov. In a prior life, they were part of the band Kissaway Trail. Their hometown is Odense, Denmark.

     “Never Go To Sleep” by Hey Way

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theheyway

Website: http://heywaytohell.blogspot.co.uk/

“Jailbird” by Shells – A Song Review

    With a contrast between the lyrical message and instrumental support, Shells released “Jailbird.” Lyrically, the song is centered around a typically low point, namely a relationship breakup. In comparison, the instruments live in upper frequencies. Tales of a breakup are well suited for the cello. No cellos in “Jailbird.” The featured instrument is the harp, which is better suited for the angelic messaging. Separating the voices from the lyrics they carry, angelic becomes an appropriate description. Shells' use of voice quiver and the backing vocals are pure and innocent, even while claiming:

“All I know is I won’t grow,

Being captive to your control.” 

     Shells is scheduled to release an EP on November 25, 2016. The EP will be entitlesd “SHAPES.”

     “Jailbird” by Shells

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shellsmusicnet

Website: http://www.shellsmusic.com/

“Absence” by Marsicans – A Song Review

     It’s airport day. Austin is indeed the live music capital of the U.S., maybe the world but our experience is too limited to make that statement with confidence. Travel day leaves little time for research. So, quoting the email submission for Marsicans:

  "Marsicans are an emerging indie band from Leeds, England, comprised of a gang of four very different individuals: James, a Beatles-obsessed singer; Oli, an art student turned guitarist; Rob,  a 'bolder than your average' bassist and Cale, a former samba band drummer. All long-time friends from school and Leeds' music scene, the current line-up started sampling old synths, singing in harmony and writing songs together in 2014."

     “Absence” by Marsicans

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marsicans

“Burn This Bridge” by ENISA – A Song Review

     With about one hundred email submissions arriving each day, there is always the risk of beginning a song and then moving to the next before appreciating its quality and value. Fortunately, when the vocals or instruments are powerful, the risk is reduced. For that reason, we listened to “Burn This Bridge” to its completion and then “bookmarked” its location. ENISA's lead vocals are strong from the start and the backing vocals are effective in adding to the overall attractiveness.

     Quoting a review by someone who knows ENISA and her talent:

  "ENISA is a singer/songwriter from Brooklyn who aims to start a fire with her debut single 'Burn This Bridge.' She has been working in the studio the past few months shaping her soul-pop sound with producers Julie Hardy and Mike MacAllister and Friday she released her first song. The 20-year-old college student is a graduate of Edward Murrow high school and has been writing original works since her teen years and started performing live when she was six.  ENISA will be promoting her song with a string of live shows in NYC this fall and releasing a music video to 'Burn This Bridge' in October. For more info check out ENISA online!" 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Enisa_Nik

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enisa_nik_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnisaNikaj/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EnisaNiko

Free Friday (“FL&R”) - September 23

     Free and Legal Downloads? Yes, at least temporarily. Bands often temporarily permit free downloads of their releases.  The end of an offer is usually based on the expiration of a set period of time.  But at least for now, here are songs that qualify as Free, Legal and Recommended (FL&R) downloads.

     Finding songs that can be legally downloaded is easy. The difficult task is to find legally downloadable music that we recommend. The hope is to post FL&R songs each Friday.

     The album released by The White Raven was reviewed by Indie Obsessive within the last month. The album didn’t include “Still So Blind.” Is that a harp featured through most of the song? Even in a year that has experienced an undeniable uptick in the use of the harp within the Indie universe, this song is a keeper. 
     "Still So Blind" (If your browser doesn't show the download arrow, go to Soundcloud at Click HERE).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhiteravenband

Website: http://thewhiteravenband.com/

     Runabay is an Indie Folk band from Belfast, Ireland. The members are John McManus (vocals/guitar), Gary Graham (guitar/vocals), Gerard McHugh (vocals/percussion), Michael McKinney (bass/vocals), Declan McCartan (cello/vocals) and Rory McAuley (drums/vocals).

     “Woodpecker” by Runabay (If your browser doesn't show the download arrow, go to Soundcloud at CLICK HERE).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runabayband/

Website: http://runabay.com/

     ANiMALSOUL is based in El Paso, Texas. The members are Jourdan Harper (vocals, guitar, keys), Alan Arellano (bass), Ivan Arellano (guitar), and Valente Arellano (drums). Yes, the band includes three brothers.

      “Color” by ANiMALSOUL (If your browser doensn't show the download arrow, go to the Soundcloud at CLICK HERE).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ANiMALSOULband/

Website: http://www.animalsoulband.com/

Throwback Thursday - "Ride My See-Saw" by The Moody Blues

     If you ask the original Hippies of the late 1960s and early 1970s to name the band that played the largest role in their lives, there will be a range of answers with various explanations. If it’s the band that changed many from being music-agnostic to music-passionate, the answer is probably The Beatles. Regardless of whether there was a respect or personal dislike for The Beatles, music became a topic that entered most conversations. On the other hand, if it’s the band that moved people away from Top 40, cookie-cut hits, the answer is most likely The Doors. “Light My Fire” was the first hit that was much longer than the commercial-friendly length of slightly more than three minutes. The Doors opened the gate for the 17-minute “In a Gadda Da Vida” by Iron Butterfly and for the “underground radio stations” that became alternative radio in the late 1960s.

     But if the question is directed to the most influential band in shaping life beyond music, the response is likely to be The Moody Blues. Between 1968 and 1971, The Moody Blues released five albums that triggered many discussions about life. Given the time, many of the conversations were probably among people in altered states. The songs didn’t lead the listener to any conclusions. They merely caused questioning. It wasn’t a level of influence The Moody Blues sought, or even wanted. In fact, their next album (“Seventh Sojourn” in 1972) included a song that proclaimed "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)." That message was not one fans were happy to hear. 

"Departure" - Lyrics

Be it sight, sound, the smell, the touch.

There's something,

Inside that we need so much,

The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,

Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.

The wonder of flowers, to be covered, and then to burst up,

Thru tarmack, to the sun again,

Or to fly to the sun without burning a wing,

To lie in the meadow and hear the grass sing,

To have all these things in our memories hoard,

And to use them,

To help us,

To find...

"Ride My See-Saw"

Ride, ride my see-saw,

Take this place

On this trip

Just for me.

Ride, take a free ride,

Take my place

Have my seat

It's for free.

I worked like a slave for years,

Sweat so hard just to end my fears.

Not to end my life a poor man,

But by now, I know I should have run.

Run, run my last race,

Take my place

Have this number

Of mine.

Run, run like a fire,

Don't you run in

In the lanes

Run for time.

Left school with a first class pass,

Started work but as second class.

School taught one and one is two.

But right now, that answer just ain't true.

Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah, ah ah ah ah ah

My world is spinning around,

Everything is lost that I found.

People run, come ride with me,

Let's find another place that's free.

Ride, ride my see-saw,

Take this place

On this trip

Just for me.

Ride, take a free ride,

Take my place

Have my seat

It's for free.

Ride, my see-saw.

Ride, ride, ride, my see-saw.

Ride, my see-saw...

“Inside Your Sun” by Venus II – A Song Review

     Some bands are able to find that Goldilocks Zone within Rock and Electronic/Dance/ Psychedelic. Their sounds may sit in different areas within the Zone, but like the story of Goldilocks in which food and furniture were “just right,” music has a spectrum in which we prefer bands that aren’t too Hard Rock or too Soft Pop. Our musical tastes normally position us outside the Zone, but we enjoy visiting.

     Foals surfaced within the Goldilocks Zone with the release of “My Number.” The song relies on instruments that have been a Rock standard since at least The Beatles’ era. And while the synthesizers play a critical role, they don’t overpower the overall sound. That’s the Golidlocks Zone!

     In Sydney, Jagwar Ma has taken residence in the Zone and the recent release of “OB1” showed their home is made of brick, not sticks. But Jagwar Ma has a neighbor. The Melbourne duo Venus II dropped an album, “Inside Your Sun.” The title track is our favorite. 

     “Inside Your Sun” by Venus II (The members of Melbourne’s Venus II are Jarrad Brown and Ryan Grieve.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VenusIImusic/

Website: http://www.venusiimusic.com/

More about Venus II – from the email submission:

  Jarrad Brown had an epiphany. As writer and frontman of freewheeling eight-piece collective The Eagle & The Worm, Brown was accustomed to delivering smart pop song writing with lashings of ragged rock'n'roll. But when completing a new batch of demos, he found himself seeking a new landscape, synthesised energy and electronic sound in his head.

  A chance meeting led Brown to Sydney-based producer Ryan Grieve, who runs Hole in the Sky Records, a label known for discovering Tame Impala. With over ten years’ experience in the Australian dance scene, working at the intersection of dance music, indie-pop and immersive audio-visuals as one half of band Canyons (DFA) and with recent project Heart People, Grieve saw Brown as a kindred spirit. Collaboration is second nature to Brown. He is a long standing veteran of the Melbourne jamming scene and a stalwart in bands like Eagle, Dorsal Fins and Custom Kings. These bands – and spiritual cousins like King Gizzard, Jagwar Ma and Saskwatch – work in different ways, unconstrained by traditional release wisdom or formats.

  Working collaboratively, the unlikely pair raked open-mindedly through Brown’s band tracks, trading records and ideas without limits. Inspirations shared – from Baldelli’s cosmic disco to Talk Talk live sessions through Brown's beloved Beach Boys and Stones to Psychemagik and Weatherall’s screamadelica  – became twisted into a new eclectic sound that Brown was searching for - a widescreen exploration of cosmic dance music through an fresh pop prism. So pleased with the results were Brown and Grieve, they anointed the partnership with a new name - Venus II.

Noisetrade Tuesday – "Blame It on the Internet" by Rand

     This week’s Noisetrade recommendation is “Blame It on the Internet” by Rand. We particularly enjoy “The World Turns,” which is the first of five tracks.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RandWalter

Website: http://randwalter.com/

“Jensen” by Cessna Deathwish – A Song Review

     “Network” was a 1976 film that satirized the news media and its ability to affect the public. The character Howard Beale (played by Peter Finch) and his rants (“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore”) are the most memorable features of the movie. There are other main characters, including Faye Dunaway’s portrayal of the programming director. Still, the Indie band Cessna Deathwish wrote the song “Jensen” about an important yet far less noteworthy character – Arthur Jensen, the chairman of a communications conglomerate.

     In the movie, Jensen lectures Howard Beale about the realities of the international economy. A portion of his explanation is embedded in the Cessna Deathwish song:

  “There are no nations. There are no peoples. There are no Russians. There are no Arabs. There are no Third Worlds. There is no West. There is only one holistic system of systems.” 

     Cessna Deathwish is from Brighton, UK. The members are George McCanna, Alex Cockburn, Dave Harding, and Jack Greenwood.

    “Jensen” by Cessna Deathwish

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cessnadeathwish/

The White Raven – A Band Review

     The White Raven released a ten-track album entitled “Through Your Hands.” The songs don’t fit quietly into a single genre. Instead, there’s a diversity that triggers periodic attention refreshes. The album leads with “Wake Wait,” which showcases the skill of lead vocalist Sebastian Wijk within the lower range. The same is true of our favorite, “Rose,” but it has a greater emphasis on the Rock element. “Headlights,” which was originally available in 2014, can be described as a dark anthemic single – “Here I stand, nothing to win and nothing to lose.” The blend of acoustic and electric instruments, particularly at the start of Headlights,” is beguiling. The album also includes “All the Colors,” with vocal processing that establishes a Bon Iver feel.

     The White Raven is a four-member band from Helsingborgs, Sweden. The members are Sebastian Wijk (lead vocals and guitar), Daniel Engdahl (drums), Gabriel Melin Svensson (bass), and Marcus Eriander (guitar).

Tracks on “Through Your Hands”

• Wake Wait
• Dark
• Rabid Rabbit
• Rose
• Threads
• Summon
• Headlights
• Grave Still Mine
• All The Colors
• Keep

“Wake Wait” by The White Raven

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhiteravenband

Website: http://thewhiteravenband.com/

“Rose” by The White Raven


“Headlights” by The White Raven

Straddling Melodic Vocals and Yells

     In 2012, we gained an appreciation for songs that include a transition from smooth flowing vocalization to melodic yelling. It’s not an easy task to transition between the very different vocalization styles while maintaining the attractiveness of the song. But when it’s done well, a live performance is energy-charged. Our appreciation came while witnessing Quiet Company at the 2012 Austin City Limits Festival. The song was “You, Me & the Boatman.” We enjoyed the song before the performance, then loved it during and afterward. The transition occurs at 2:04 and then even more dramatically at 3:22.

     “You, Me & the Boatman” by Quiet Company (still a free download!)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quietcompany/

Website: http://www.quietcompanymusic.com

     Two 2016 releases that include the transitions are songs by The Wrecks and British India. However, British India seems more resistant to flat-out yelling.

     “Favorite Liar” by The Wrecks – The best transition from melodic vocals to "yells" occurs at 3:00 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreTheWrecks/

Website: http://www.wearethewrecks.com/

     “I Thought We Knew Each Other” by British India – The transitions are more subtle than in the first two songs, but it’s still a song geared for being the encore in a live setting.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britishindiaofficial/

Website: http://britishindiaofficial.com/

Free Friday (“FL&R”) - September 16

     Free and Legal Downloads? Yes, at least temporarily. Bands often temporarily permit free downloads of their releases.  The end of an offer is usually based on the expiration of a set period of time.  But at least for now, here are songs that qualify as Free, Legal and Recommended (FL&R) downloads.

     Finding songs that can be legally downloaded is easy. The difficult task is to find legally downloadable music that we recommend. The hope is to post FL&R songs each Friday.

     “Tunnel” reaches back to 2014, but the song by The Bronze Medal hasn’t lost its luster. The Bronze Medal is from Bristol, UK. The members are Rory O'Gorman, Chris Hillier, Daniel Rogers, Mike Barnett, and Robin Southwell.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebronzemedalmusic

     The Shanklins are Ben J Phillips (lead vocals, guitar), Alex Jones (bass), Mitch Dodd (drums), and Tom Phillips (guitar).

     “Tell Me” by The Shanklins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheShanklins

     Vallkyrie consists of Omer Gilroy (vocals), Rebel Reid (guitar, keys) and Brandon Haru (Percussion, Keys). “Steel Heart” is a song dedicated to the struggles surrounding breast cancer. If your browser doesn’t show the “download” icon, go the Soundcloud page CLICK HERE.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vallkyriemusic

“Going to California – Throwback Thursday

   

     In 1971, Led Zeppelin left their roots and released a single that featured the mandolin and acoustic guitar. It was unplugged before the term was popular. At the time “Going to California” hit the ears of fans, it seemed that half the U.S. residents between the ages of 15 and 25 wanted to move to California or had already done so. However, rather than arriving “on a big jet plane,” the mode of transportation was a van with all worldly possessions in the back.

     The three members in the song were Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (acoustic guitar) and John Paul Jones (mandolin). Rumor is that the hope of finding “a queen without a king” reflected Plant’s attraction for Canadian Joni Mitchell, who had moved to Los Angeles. “Someone told me there's a girl out there with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.”

“Lyrics of “Going to California” by Led Zeppelin

Spent my days with a woman unkind

Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine.

Made up my mind to make a new start

Going to California with an aching in my heart.

Someone told me there's a girl out there

With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.

Took my chances on a big jet plane

Never let them tell you that they're all the same.

The sea was red and the sky was grey

Wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today.

The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake

As the children of the sun began to awake.

Seems that the wrath of the Gods

Got a punch on the nose and it started to flow;

I think I might be sinking.

Throw me a line if I reach it in time

I'll meet you up there where the path

Runs straight and high.

To find a queen without a king;

They say she plays guitar and cries and sings.

La la la la

Side a white mare in the footsteps of dawn

Tryin' to find a woman who's never, never, never been born.

Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams,

Telling myself it's not as hard, hard, hard as it seems.