Andrew Bird - Fingerlings

The other day I was shuffling through some old music and I rediscovered this sweet record. Form then on, I've once again been listening heavily to Mr Bird and I just couldn't help myself uploading this for you.

Andrew Bird - Fingerlings

Andrew Bird is/was a skilled classical solo violinist and played big theaters and solo'd with grand orchestras. Then he suddenly quit all that, claiming the classical music environment was so stale and old-fashioned, it bored him to death.

He went ahead and started a sort of big band, 'Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire' who played a wonderful blend of big band kletzmer, jazz and folk music. Then he quit that too, and pursued a solo career which started out kinda folkish and with much emphasize on the violin. He often plays a character-defining pizzicato style and in between amazes with his virtuoso skills. He is also an extraordinary whistler, and he has implemented more whistling in his music over time.

The 2002 album Fingerlings is a lot like that, but it is all live recordings and they tend to flirt more with traditional folk and blues than his other stuff. It's all very charming. Give it a try.

Download link in the comments!

Jack Planck - To Hell With You I'll Make My Own People

Good morning to all. Today I've got a real wildcard for you, you probably have no idea, but this is a real gem.

Jack Planck - To Hell With You I'll Make My Own People

[EDITED] Jeez, I kinda had to change what I wrote about this guy as I read up on him a little more. The lesson I've learned today is question your sources. Turns out Jack Planck is actually Jacknife Lee, producer who's worked with Bloc Party, Editors, U2, Beck, Snow Patrol, The Hives and more. This is his third record but the first one under the Jack Planck moniker.

The music is a lovely mix of semi-trance, low-fi and 8bit, jazzy beats, funk and indie pop with a lot of quirkyness to it. The lyrics are sometimes sung, but mostly features voice samples of people speaking, or just simple and/or made up words like 'hey' or 'chom chom chom' in Chom Chom Generator. Other lyrics include 'The universe is an accident' and 'Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition', not to mention 'So many good drugs are now on the market, it is most important that you take them. And for that reason, this record is being made'. Neat.

We will most definitely hear more of Jack Planck, under various names. I reckon him the same kind of musician as DJ Shadow and Kanye West, skilled producers who over time get more recognition for their own original work. Now do yourself a favour and download this shit. Download link in the comments as usual.

John Fahey - Red Cross

While starting up this blog I try to listen to as much exciting musik I can get my hands on, and it pays off. I've got a new album for you today.

Download links are in the comments.

John Fahey - Red Cross

John Fahey was a real american original. A self-taught avantgarde guitarist with a broken yet virtuoso style of playing. Red Cross is his last recorded works and released 2003, two years after his death. This features highly unconventional and twisted acoustic guitar works ascending from old school blues, some haunting and some very beautiful tunes, from a man who wrote the short story collection 'How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life'. This is an eyeopener.

Now download this record. The download link is in the comments!

Big Bang! 3 albums to start with

Okay so this is my music blog. I've been thinking of starting one for a long time and was gonna call it The Sorrowful Midwest but whatever. I'll go with this one. Despite that, I'm not planning on this to be a Conor worship cult blog (thank god) . Just thought it was a nice name.

So to get things started and to give you a first impression of what to expect from here I'll start out grandious with three uploads. I'll even host 'em myself, as of yet, and speeds should be oodie goodie. RAR and no password. Three cheers to that, fellas.

All download links are in the comments.

Clem Snide - The Ghost of Fashion

Clem Snide could be one of the most underrated bands out there. When I first got in touch with them it was through lead singer Eef Barzelay's solo album 'Bitter Honey', and it reminded me alot of Jeff Tweedys solo sessions, just the songs seemed simpler and more to the point. Clem Snide in full band definitely has those elements, but add strings, horns and electric guitars.

This is alternative country rock at it's very finest, with a couple of indierock and plain old singer/songwriter ingredients to spice up the mix. Think early Wilco or late Uncle Tupelo crossed with the sweetest R.E.M and you're on the right track.

The lyrics are smart, witty and refreshingly uncencored. And, on several occasions outright gorgeous, much like the music. The Ghost of Fashion just boils with sweet hasslefree tunes. I encourage anyone even remotely interested in folk, alt. country or slow indie rock to check this out. 'Specially since I've upped it for you. Consider.



Augustana - All The Stars And Boulevards

Perhaps you, like me, are sick of mtv fabricated indie/emo/punkrock bands designed to fit the oblivious masses. Think Plain White Tees(spare us..!). If so, Augustana might come as a nice surprise. Sort of like Coldplay or The Fray coupled with a little five dollar emotionalism from, say, Dashboard Confessional or Green Day. Just alot more rocking.

I for one think Coldplay gets a tad boring every now and then, and well, Green Day is just plain embarassing, but this isn't like that. It feels sincere in a way most mainstream bands in this genre does not. Having said that, this isn't the most in-depth album you're likely to find. That's not the point. Point is, this is an awesome record to listen to when you can't bother to give each track 100% of your concentration. Very easy-listening, and very accesible, but still rocking tight, and still with songs that will grow on you with time. All in all this is an album that has broadened my tastes a little, and if that isn't a great musical achievement then what is? You might have heard them 'cause there was some buzz about this record when it came out and they've been circling mtv and the likes. If you haven't, download it and listen for yourself. I think this will appeal to pretty much everyone.



Don Johnson Big Band - Support de Microphones

From Finland, Don Johnson Big Band is not really a big band, but rather a hip-hop outfit thick with layered bass, heavy moods and easygoing jazziness. DJBB mostly makes their own music instead of using samples as far as I'm concerned, and they do it well. This album has so many styles, and moves from a smokey slow beat of dystopian suburbia to a cocky big shot tune bursting with jazzy groove in a heartbeat.

They really know their game, and everything from the cheerful funky basslines to the delivering of the witful rhymes is executed with a laid-back self-confidence while at all times very tounge-in-cheek.

The music is very diverse and sports phat bass, some really creative drums, pianos, flutes, saxophone, acoustic guitars, strings, soundeffects like gunshots, looped spoken vocals and what-not. I'd be the first one to call these guys hip-hop pioneers and it's a shame they haven't made more of a name for themselves abroad. In Finland though, they are huge.


Hope you'll like these records. There will be more soon. And again,

All download links are in the comments.