Asian Man Records is about to release a collection of home demos by Alkaline Trio‘s Matt Skiba. This is the promo single from the collection, and I like it a lot. It’s a minimal rendering of a complete new song, with that sense of wonder and discovery in the voice that make some songwriter demos very special. This is sweet. If you haven’t heard Alkaline Trio’s full-on power pop emo sound, you can catch them on the Warped Tour, like, now.

Matt Skiba
“S.O.S.” (mp3)
from “Demos”
(Asian Man Records)

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I post a lot of great music here, and I love all of it, a lot. But every once in a while I hear a song, and I just have to get up on a soapbox and wave my arms and yell HEY, YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS!  This is the best new love song I have heard in a long while. The lyrics are outstanding. Very contemporary, yet also archetypal and timeless. I know nothing about this artist, and I’m even gonna like, read the bio before posting this. I can do that later. This is just brilliant.

Ryan Bourne
“Love and Death” (mp3)
from “Supermodern World of Beauty”
(Saved by Radio)

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What does a Sea Of Bees sound like? Why, like this, Dorothy. A very buzzing, furry, winged self-organizing symphony of pollinating honeybugs. Sea Of Bees is actually one Julie Ann Bee, a (deep breath) multi-talented singer-songwriter-player-arranger-producer who writes and performs purty much every track on her lush and lovely recordings. Me likes it a lot. Now what happens when a Sea Of Bees gets into the Marmalade? Listen and find out, dears. Gr8 stuff.

Sea of Bees
“Marmalade” (mp3)
from “Songs for the Ravens”
(Crossbill Records)

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In a true Internets moment, I have become an instant fan of Modern Skirts. What a wonderful and joyful sound. And how unusual. I love their sweet child like voices. I love the old school storytelling approach. I love the looseness and the naturalness. I even love the way their voices fall out of tune here and there. It’s sweet. It’s real. It’s nice. It’s NOT AUTO-TUNED! and gawd, that in itself makes me happy in this age of saccharine-frosted ersatz musik. Yes. In short, I love this.

Modern Skirts
“Rebecca St. Claire” (mp3)
from “Happy 81 EP”
(athensmusic.net)

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This beautiful track by The Static Age stopped me in my tracks this morning. A gr8 song lyrically, “Count The Dead” is delivered on a music bed that reminds favorably of early U2, Killing Joke and Cure material. It’s a very affecting piece which you could loosely say is about humanity’s tendency to war, but what makes the song powerful is that it observes rather than explains, asks rather than answers. Marvelous work.

The Static Age
“Count The Dead” (mp3)
from “Blank Screens”
(ReIgnition Recordings)

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Enter the ecstatic, end-it-all goth-fest of Ink & Dagger. Vampire punks to the end, this Philadelphia band released four albums, toured extensively, vomited on Christmas trees, drenched themselves in fake blood, and generally upset their fans’ parents. Their records sound loud even at low volumes, stuffed with belligerent yet sexy grunge metal guitar riffs, all infused with their own unique take on life. “Creatures Like Us,” the title track from their farewell album, delivers Ink & Dagger’s message and sound in a deliciously dangerous 3 minute pill.

Ink & Dagger
“Creatures Like Us” (mp3)

from “Ink & Dagger”
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The metaphor of love relationship as addiction has long been pounded on by self-help books, therapists, and the occasional song lyric. Breaking up is hard to do. Can’t get used to losing you. Might as well face it you’re addicted to love. Here’s another entry into the log of human struggle, to shake that incomparable jones of need for another person. This well constructed and patient reflection by Portland, Oregon’s Typhoon is a  fine study of the tar bar baby of love. They list their genres as Soul / Healing & Easy Listening / Black Metal, and I must say that’s strangely accurate. Original and worthy work, which might even self-help you along. Enjoy.

Typhoon
“Starting Over (Bad Habits)” (mp3)
from “Hunger and Thirst”
(Tender Loving Empire)

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One of the first bands I ever discovered as a direct result of teh Internets, was a San Francisco psychedelic power pop outfit called Oranger. It was 1999 and I was partying like Prince. My early broadband connection was expensive and janky, but I found out you could download a thing called an mp3 file and that indie bands were posting their songs legally for free so they could have a prayer of getting heard. Fascinated, I began searching for something juicy, not  aware that it would become a daily obsession for years to follow. Within an hour I was listening to Oranger’s unforgettable “Eggtooth,” which I later re-posted when I made the leap to posting one gr8 song a day.  Here now is another delightful track from this irreverent and talented quintet, who always seemed more concerned with their artistic output than with trying to fit into any marketable niche. The title, “Mike Love, Not War” actually describes their sound and humor, quite succinctly. Google “Mike Love” if it doesn’t make sense, kiddies, and soon you will understand. Peace.

Oranger
“Mike Love, Not War” (mp3)
from “Doorway To Norway”
(Amazing Grease Records)

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Another epic track from The Wolverton Brothers, who already won my Gr8 Song Title award for “Cops Nab Drunken Legless Burglar.” Proudly declaring themselves OLD, UGLY, and LOUD on their site, this band is a cre8ive force to be reckoned with, conjuring a massive, distinctive sound. In “Memory Thieves” they sound like a an old school power trio interpreting goth punk, to produce a sort of psychedelic surf prog that exceeds expectations as the piece unfolds. Brilliant, minimal lyrics, and a fully realized performance from this Cincinnati Ohio institution.

Wolverton Brothers
“Memory Thieves” (mp3)
from “Crooked”
(Ionik Recordings)

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Beach House. I approve of a band called Beach House. I would hope their music sounds like a cool misty breeze kissing one’s face on a lazy summer day. On the beach of course. This song doesn’t disappoint, in a soft rock psychedelic way. Sexy soothing lovely mysterious peaceful. Just what I needed on this fine Northern California morning.

Beach House
“Norway” (mp3)
from “Teen Dream”
(Arts & Crafts Mexico)

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