Artist: Soundgarden
Album: Badmotorfinger
Genre: Grunge, Alternative Rock
Unofficial Soundgarden Page: http://web.stargate.net/soundgarden/
Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger is by far my favorite grunge album. The tracks are all heavy and mellow at the same time. The guitars are heavy at some points, calm at another section. All the while, Chris Cornell's ever-distinctive vocals wail over the background music. There is no specific notable track on this album, because of them are pure bliss. This is the definitive album of Soundgarden's catalog.
Tracklist:
1. Rusty Cage (4:26)
2. Outshined (5:11)
3. Slaves And Bulldozers (6:56)
4. Jesus Christ Pose (5:51)
5. Face Pollution (2:24)
6. Somewhere (4:21)
7. Searching With My Good Eye Closed (6:31)
8. Room A Thousand Years Wide (4:06)
9. Mind Riot (4:49)
10. Drawing Flies (2:25)
11. Holy Water (5:07)
12. New Damage (5:40)
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Artist: The Original Slowhand & the Evil Minions
Album: Bring Back The Funk. Please.
Genre: Funk, Blues, Soul
The Original Slowhand & the Evil Minions is a funk/blues band formed by Kiuas vocalist Ilja Jalkanen. It's rather odd, I think, that a power metal vocalist created an amazing funk album. The sound is an odd form of funk. Ilja plays guitars on the album in addition to playing the kazoo. The bass is funky but not slapped. Notable tracks include Why I Rule, You're Still Breathin', and Have You Ever Hated Yourself. This is an unexpectedly amazing album from a great power metal vocalist.
Tracklist:
1. "." (0:28)
2. Why I Rule (3:10)
3. Shelter From The Rain (3:43)
4. My Baby (3:25)
5. I've Got To Go (3:54)
6. You're Still Breathin' (4:17)
7. ".." (0:35)
8. Ever Since I Was A Young Boy (4:08)
9. I Don't Know The Man (3:43)
10. Sometimes It's Good To Be Mistreated (3:13)
11. Should Have (3:39)
12. Have You Ever Hated Yourself (3:54)
13. "..." (0:28)
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Artist: Gogol Bordello
Album: Super Taranta!
Genre: Gypsy Punk
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/gogolbordello
Here it is! The brand new Gogol Bordello album! It's chock full of amazing songs just like their third album, Underdog World Strike. This album is a must have for those who like their work. I personally enjoyed it about 5 times as soon as I got it, and I'll be listening to this CD a LOT over the next couple of weeks. What are you waiting for? Get this shit! Notable tracks include Wonderlust King, Supertheory of Supereverything, and Forces of Victory.
Tracklist:
1. Ultimate (3:29)
2. Wonderlust King (3:57)
3. Zina-Marina (4:19)
4. Super Theory Of Super Everything (2:55)
5. Harem In Tuscany (Taranta) (3:32)
6. Dub The Frequencies Of Love (6:15)
7. My Strange Uncles From Abroad (5:19)
8. Tribal Connection (5:04)
9. Forces Of Victory (5:23)
10. Alcohol (4:54)
11. Suddenly...(I Miss Carpaty) (5:36)
12. Your Country (4:15)
13. American Wedding (3:37)
14. Super Taranta! (6:44)
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Artist: Ogre
Album: Seven Hells
Genre: Doom Metal
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ogre
Ogre are a Doom metal band that take their sound from both Traditional Doom and 70's Heavy Rock such as Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. They're almost kind of Stonery in the way they've set up their guitar tone. Anyway, these guys are amazing. They weave tales of war and history going back to Vietnam. Their music is very bass/groove driven like most doom bands. The vocals also come from the bassist, who wails into his mic VERY similar to Deep Purple. A very good listen, it should be a staple in anyone's doom collection. Fuck, these guys are so groovy.
Tracklist:
1. Dogmen (Of Planet Earth) (8:31)
2. Soldier Of Misfortune (10:02)
3. The Gas (6:30)
4. Woman On Fire (6:55)
5. Review Your Choices (Pentagram cover) (3:21)
6. Sperm Whale (7:21)
7. Flesh Feast (13:44)
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Artist: Arcana
Album: Inner Pale Sun
Genre: Darkwave
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/peterbjargo
Arcana are a very lovely darkwave band. Their music is similar to that of a Siren's song. It is sweet and soothing, yet it sucks you in and commands you. It uses synthesizer keyboards to create ambience and atmosphere while using violins and other stringed instruments to create the melody. The vocals are sweet, yet haunting. This album is very good if you're looking to just relax or chill while listening to captivating music. Notable tracks include We Rise Above, Season of Thought, and Closure.
Tracklist:
1. My Cold Sea (4:28)
2. Lovelorn (5:23)
3. Icons (4:35)
4. We Rise Above (4:43)
5. Innocent Child (5:17)
6. Song of the Dead Sun (5:08)
7. Season of Thought (4:15)
8. Closure (5:05)
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Artist: Kultur Shock
Album: We Came To Take Your Jobs Away
Genre: Gypsy Punk
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/kulturshock
Kultur Shock are perfect if you want chaotic music. These guys specialize in alternative Balkan music. If you like Gogol Bordello, then you'll absolutely love these guys. They've toured with Gogol Bordello, and their live shows are crazy. They're like punk rock, traditional Balkan, and their own special blend of crazy. Notable tracks on this album are God Is Busy, May I Help You?, Istanbul, Duna, and Gino Loves You for the specific reason that it's a hilarious song. Put these guys in your CD player, crank it up to 11, and just plain rock out!
Tracklist:
1. God Is Busy, May I Help You? (3:22)
2. Tango La Victoire (4:08)
3. Duna (3:37)
4. Zumbul (6:11)
5. Gino Loves You (2:02)
6. Istanbul (4:19)
7. Poor Man's Tango (4:02)
8. Nano Mi Hermano (4:03)
9. Sarajevo (3:54)
10. Hashishi (6:29)
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Artist: Th' Legendary Shack Shakers
Album: Pandelirium
Genre: Psychobilly
Band Website: http://www.cockadoodledont.com/
Th' Legendary Shack Shakers are a psychobilly band that will blow your mind. They sound like punk rock music had ravaging buttsecks with bluegrass. They're in the same vein as Rev. Horton Heath, who just so happens to play guitar on a few of these tracks. The album mixes punk, folk, polka, and hillbilly influences to create their frantic music. It is said that they have a pretty wild stage performance as well. These guys have surely made a name for themselves in this genre. Notable tracks are Ichabod!, Somethin' In The Water, and Monkey On The Doghouse.
Tracklist:
1. Ichabod! (3:15)
2. South Electric Eyes (2:46)
3. No Such Thing (3:34)
4. Iron Lung Oompah (3:10)
5. Bottom Road (2:07)
6. Somethin' In The Water (2:48)
7. Gipsy Valentine (3:29)
8. Thin The Herd (1:37)
9. Monkey On The Doghouse (2:01)
10. The Ballad Of Speedy Atkins (2:19)
11. Bible, Candle And Skull (3:00)
12. Nellie Bell (2:42)
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Artist: Maps and Atlases
Album: Tree, Swallows, House
Genre: Indie, Math Rock
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/mapsandatlases
Maps & Atlases is a math rock band from Chicago, Illinois. They sound similar to their influences Don Caballero and Hella. The guitarwork is crazy good. They're technical and yet easy to listen to. The vocals are a bit iffy, but they sound typical of the indie style. They're currently not under any label, so this album was a self-release put out on January 10 of this year. If you like technical guitars with progressive time-signature changes, this music is perfect for you. They're better than I expected them to be.
Tracklist:
1) Everyplace Is A House (3:58)
2) The Most Trustworthy Tin Cans (3:58)
3) The Ongoing Horrible (2:05)
4) Big Bopper Anthems (4:42)
5) Stories About Ourselves (3:45)
6) The Sounds They Make (1:31)
7) Songs For Ghosts To Haunt To (4:08)
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Artist: Edge of Sanity
Album: Crimson
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/edgeofsanity01
Edge of Sanity pushes the envelope with this release. Crimson is a single track of 40 minutes in length. But this isn't 40 minutes of repetitive riffs. It's almost like it's a compilation of ideas woven together. The song starts out slow, picks up pace, kicks into high gear with catchy riffs, then slows down again for the outro. The song features several guests including Mikael Akerfeldt on backing vocals during one part of the song. My personal favorite section is at about 12:40. For fans of Melodic Death Metal, this album is a staple in anyone's collection.
Tracklist:
1. Crimson (40:01)
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Artist: If These Trees Could Talk
Album: If These Trees Could Talk (EP)
Genre: Post-Rock/Instrumental
Myspace: www.myspace.com/ifthesetreescouldtalk
"Like the Six Parts Seven, another area group known for its rock soundscapes, Akron's If These Trees Could Talk proves in its self-titled six-song debut that you don't need vocals to ooze emotion. In fact, lyrics would only get in the way of the Trees' dense, flowing sound. This album emotes like Explosions in the Sky, rocks like Tool, and breaks and builds like Godspeed You! Black Emperor. The crystal-clear production and flawless musical performances make this a local instrumental album that stands high above the mire."
-Cleveland Scene Magazine
Tracklist:
1. Malabar Front (8:05)
2. Smoke Stacks (6:24)
3. The Friscalating Dusklight (4:32)
4. Signal Tree (5:24)
5. The Death of Paradigm (4:06)
6. 41°4'23n, -81°31'4w (3:30)
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