Essential Demo - Pet Milk Demo

Although it was only released in May 2010, the Pet Milk Demo is one album that has totally been slept on. These Philadelphia rockers are still relatively fresh in the scene they embody an essence of what independent music sounded like in the 80s. Download it for free at their bandcamp page and be sure to check it out their new album. You have to click Buy Now to download it, but they offer it as a free download if you choose not to pay. Its totally worth supporting this band tho be sure to check out their new album their asking $3 bucks for it.

Download it here

Picture - Where the Trees Meet the Clouds at South Fork BC

Snowshoed straight up the mountian for a few hours to get this one

New Frank Ocean MP3 - 4 Tears

Late last night on his tumblr Frank Ocean dropped a new track off his upcoming debut '. Others have reported this as a demo, probably cause its under two minutes in length. Guess this song is kinda holiday-ish. Either way makes many of us happy on boxing day. Now go spend your chrstmas money and rock out in some bars. I'm destroying Nelson this weekend.


Frank Ocean - 4 Tears

NEW BLOCKHEAD/Illogic MP3

Just in case you've been sleeping under a fucking rock your whole life Blockhead is the premier beat producer in the world. He's better than RJD2, better than your commercial Just Blaze and Alchemist, he helped get indie hip hop legend Aesop Rock off the ground by providing his early albums with insane beats, he is the best thing that ever happened to Ninja Tune, etc etc etc (as my friend Hugh would say). If you doubt me just check out his discography.

So it made my holidays when Blockhead announced that he had been working with Illogical on a full length album, a few free EPs, and this free track. OMFG that shit is amazing! Just incase you missed the amazing collabo they did years ago, 'An Ocean', peep it below the MP3 link.

NEW BLOCKHEAD/ILLOGIC MP3

Mixtape - The Weeknd - Echo of Silence

Well the prophecy came true. The third of the already legendary Weeknd mixtape trilogy has been released. It may be a little later than expected, but here it is. I imagine the internet is gonna be plugged and backed up with this one so anyone who needs a mirror here it is. Oh I hope he comes to Victoria.


Echo of Silence Mixtape

MP3 - Big K.R.I.T. - Moon & Stars (Clams Casino Remix)

So much good shit being dropped all over the place right now i wish i had more time to share more. Here's a little gem. Not your typical Clams Casino beat but I absolutely love it. Its a bit bouncier and funkier. Gonna post his instrumental album soon, the shit is gold.

MP3

Picture - Kaslo River

MP3 - Dan Mangan - Leaves, Trees, Forest

Its tough to post with increasing holiday activity on the homefront. The kootenays are beautiful it snowed like mad earlier. I set up a 10 ft christmas tree. Seasons greetings whoever's out there this the newest from Dan Mangan, a local BC hero. Much love.

MP3

New Shins Album Release Date/Tracklisting

Its no secret that The Shins are probably my favorite band ever. The only one that may edge them out is Jawbreaker. Even though James Mercer fired the rest of the band built a little supergroup around him I don't think the music is going to suffer. James Mercer has always been the creative force behind The Shins so as long as he's around Im not worried. The album is due for a march 2012 release, so maybe if we're lucky there will be a leak in february:) I just can't wait for them to tour again. I'd imagine they're going to do a huge festival run next year. Heres the tracklist. Three of the songs have been performed live, I chose the video of the song that jumped out the most me, which is the album opener The Rifles Spiral. I'm going to do a massive Shins B-Side and Rarities Collection I've been working on when i get back to Victoria.


01 The Rifle's Spiral
02 Simple Song
03 It's Only Life
04 No Way Down
05 September
06 Bait and Switch
07 Fall of '82
08 For a Fool
09 40 Mark Strasse
10 Port of Morrow

MP3 - BUSTA - Koots Roots Feat. SES (Original Mix) - Ghetto Funk

This is great banging track representing the Kootenays! BOOOYA! I love my homeland! Ghetto Funk greatness!

BUSTA - Koots Roots Feat. SES (Original Mix) :FREE DOWNLOAD:

Mixtape -The Hood Internet - The Hood (2011)

MISHKA has absolutely been killing it on the music they've been supporting lately. The Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire hosted production and cameos from El-p, Despot, Necro, and Das Racist and was nothing but drunk gritty street hip hop. That was released september 11. A month before that they released Main Attraktionz 808s and Dark Grapes 2. Alot of people will tag that as hip hop album of the year. wtf is going on not but a few months later and they drop what i will possibly argue to be the best Hood Internet album/mix/whatever you wanna call it. This strongly pumps and is great for parties. Totally worth the download.

Be sure to peep their site they have tons of good music and clothing going on.

Grab it from MISHKA here

Picture - Casey the Wonder Dog

Essential Album - Darc Mind - Symptomatic of a Greater Ill 2006

Although released in 2006 by the almighty Anticon this album was recorded in the mid 90's and was supposed to be released on Loud/RCA in 1997;however, this album was lost in the rubble of a collapsed label. It took nearly 10 years to then release.

The opening track 'Visions of Blur' was featured in the early 90's hood basketball doc Soul in the Hole. It is also the standout track on the album, but as a whole the album very listenable. Its nice to have 90s hip hop i havent blown into the heavens 10,000 times. enjoy

Darc Mind Symptomatic of a Greater Ill

Picture - Rock Creek

Essential EP - The Hated - Like the Days 7"

There is a obvious relationship between this and my Three Shades of Dirty post. I can't help but love this late 80's/early 90's Annopolis punk. Its got so much soul and spirit behind it. The Hated used to be one of the harder bands to gather decent quality recordings of and there was such a demand from people to re-release this stuff Troubleman Records decided to take it upon itself to compile and re-master the original masters. Nothing came of it though.

Then more recently internet blog superhero Stormy from Blogged and Quartered claimed he stumbled across the masters on the internet and compiled them into three complete collections. That means our lucky day. This is one of my favorite all-time recordings. I see it as a good introduction to The Hated, the band that somehow got lost in time. Be sure to grab the complete discography from Blogged and Quartered if you like this. They deserve so much more for this beautiful music its a shame that a proper release never made it.

I would also like to draw specific attention to Damned Heart, which is the a-side of the second 7". It is truely one of my favorite songs of all time. This song is the main reason that I'm putting up this EP over the Everysong EP. That one is next.

In pristine quality, do enjoy


The Hated - Damned Heart
The Hated - Like the Days 2x7" EP

Lyrics to Damned Heart :

out of reach
in the days of our lives
feeling gravity pull them apart
many words fail to say what we feel
as if we can't feel
through the darkness we come from a far
into the light but no strength to perceive
many worlds have we seen: we've not tasted one
still we gather, though no fruit has fallen
contradiction is all that we see
soon we find out
where we
(because) all these lives they
are come freely gone

these confrontations take all I have not all I can give

 

- so good!

Random Art Sightings

Rudlin Street Art

Hush Nightclub bathroom stall nowledge

The infamous Snak the Ripper?

Essential Mixtape - Excursions (ATCQ Rarities & B-Sides) - Mick Boogie

Mick Boogie has truely topped any mixtape he's ever done with this one.  A Tribe Called Quest is the pinnacle of hip hop in my world. I had thought I had heard every Tribe song a few times at least. That is, until this mixtape rolled in early this summer. Oh yeah Mick Boogie, who grew up in Poland Ohio was the dj for the Cleveland Cavaliers for a number of seasons. Maybe he made Lebron bounce.

I remember good times to and from Thetis Lake bumping this one. I figured its a great mix that brings us all a little sunshine in the dead of winter. Seasons greetings Tum Tum.

Mick Boogie Excursions Mixtape

Oh yeah and anyone who hasn't checked out Beats, Rhymes, Life: ATCQ Documentary

heres the trailer -

Picture - Goldstream Trussel

Essential MP3s - Wolf Parade Self-Released 2004 EP

Spencer Krug has always been a favorite, and local musician, of mine. Hailing from Penticton in the interior British Columbia Krug's other musical endeavors, namely Sunset Rubdown and Swan Lake, have been favorites of mine for years. So its no wonder when Krug and Dan Boeckner (of Handsome Furs and Atlas Strategic fame) teamed up they made hours of incredible audible delights.

What I like about the two self-released Wolf Parade EPs is that they don't have that early Isaac Brock sound. I always thought he made it sound too much like Modest Mouse.


MP3

MP3 - Solar Bears - Cub (Keep Shelly in Athens Remix)

This track hit the internet earlier this year, showcasing the power of new age beatsmith's Keep Shelly in Athens. Great breakbeat in this one. This downtempo electronic is a post-rave sensation tingling inside. Be sure to check out Keep Shelly in Athens EP In Love With Dusk and Haunting Me 7".

MP3

Picture - Indoor Saints