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Song Of The Day: Meshuggah - Neurotica

“Neurotica” is the third song from 1998’s Chaosphere, an album that marked Meshuggah’s move away from the straight ahead thrash metal of their previous efforts towards more avant garde song structures and experimental instrumentation. When paired with its follow up Nothing, the two albums represent a divergent take on rhythmically complex heavy music and act as a fascinating complement to the creative output of more mainstream bands like Tool.

Also, how awesomely “Nuclear Blast Records” is that album artwork?

1 week ago; Comments | Tags: song of the day Meshuggah Neurotica Chaosphere Brett

Dillinger Escape Plan - Farewell, Mona Lisa

The video for “Farewell, Mona Lisa,” the first single from Option Paralysis the forthcoming… forth album… by ex-hardcore not-math rock heroes Dillinger Escape Plan, is basically an artsy live performance clip. As Stereogum pointed out, this is hardly a bad thing, as the band knows how to rip it up live, a fact that I can attest to as I have personally come thisclose to having my face re-arranged by Ben Weinman’s guitar. Nearly the coolest moment of my life. Honest.

Option Paralysis will be out on 3/23.

1 week ago; Comments | Tags: Dillinger Escape Plan Farewell Mona Lisa Option Paralysis Brett

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Song Of The Day: Gorillaz - Superfast Jellyfish (Radio Rip)

Our song of the day today is the bouncy, bizarre, and distinctly nautical lead track from the Gorillaz next release Plastic Beach, which is due out next week. Guest artists Gruff Rhys and De La Soul come together for the first (and my guess only) time to create a song that sounds pretty much unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. It kind of left me wishing that there was a cereal called “Superfast Jellyfish” out there somewhere.

In related news, the good folks over at NPR music have started streaming the entirety of Plastic Beach before its release next week. While you wont have the ability to select from the sixteen individual tracks, you will get the whole experience from its start, which features a classy turn from professional guest artist Snoop Dogg, to its modern age creep-rock ending.

The list of collaborators is extensive, as always, and includes the likes of Lou Reed, Guy Garvey, Mos Def, De La Soul, and the aforementioned Snoop Dogg. Suffice it to say that the sheer variety of musical heavyweights being brought to the table ensures that Plastic Beach will have something for every set of ears to enjoy (or at least appreciate), as has been the case with previous Gorillaz efforts. My worry is that the variety will detract from the quality of the collection as a whole, as both their 2001 debut and Demon Days suffered from a lack of cohesion and a number of decidedly “meh” moments, due in large part to the enormity of the guest list.

Listen to the full stream of the album here.

1 week ago; Comments | Tags: Song Of The Day Gorillaz Superfast Jellyfish Plastic Beach Brett

soundgarden to re release debut vinyl single

So it seems that in getting back together, Soundgarden are determined to turn the clock back and act like the past decade and a half haven’t happened. To that end, the band will be re-releasing its debut single “Hunted Down” along with its B-side “Nothing To Say” on April 17th, which is Record Store Day (apparently). The two songs will be sold in select independent record stores on a 7” orange (!) vinyl pressed by Sub Pop.

For more info on this and the other limited edition releases that will be available on Record Store Day, check out this here link.

1 week ago; Comments | Tags: soundgarden record store day vinyl sub pop Brett

The Devil Makes Three To Tour, Brighten Your March

The Devil Makes Three delivery a punk-tinged take on classic American folk music, one that wears its hooks as openly as it displays its somewhat kitschy qualities. The California based trio has been around since 2002, releasing three full length albums including their latest, Do Wrong Right. To my ears, fans of the New Orleans Bingo Show or those looking for an upbeat take on the stylings of William Elliott Whitmore should take note.

DMT are currently on a tour of the West Coast, Canada, and the Midwest. If you live in one of the cities below, head on out and give them a look in. Maybe your contributions will mean that they will be able to make out to the East coast on the next go around.

The Devil Makes Three Tour

Marc 19 - Brick by Brick - San Diego, CA
Mar 20 - The Troubadour - LA, CA
Mar 21 - Soho - Santa Barbara, CA
Mar 23 - The Phoenix Theatre - Petaluma, CA
Mar 24 - The Historic Ashland Armory - Ashland, CA
Mar 25 - WOW Hall - Eugene, Or
Mar 27 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR
Mar 28 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
Mar 30 - The Railway Club - Vancouver, BC
Apr 1 - The Marquee Room - Calgary, AB
Apr 2 - The Pawn Shop - Edmonton, AB
Apr 3 - Lydia’s Pub - Saskatoon, SK
Apr 5 - The Park Theatre - Winnipeg, MB
Apr 8 - The Double Door - Chicago, IL
Apr 9 - First Ave - Minneapolis, MN
Apr 11 - High Noon - Madison, WI
Apr 25 - Pozo Saloon - Pozo, CA - supporting Merle Haggard

Video for “All Hail”

1 month ago; Comments | Tags: The Devil Makes Three All Hail Brett

A Considered Opinion: The Heavy - The House That Dirt Built

On their first full length release, Great Vengeance And Furious Fire, The Heavy proved to me that Prince-inspired neo-soul could be listened to without a sense of irony and without worrying about any undue effect on my testosterone levels. Tracks like “Coleen”, “That Kind of Man”, and “In The Morning” were capable of getting even this most jaded of listeners to jump to his feet and find his inner groove thing. It wasn’t pretty, but it was pretty righteous.

Read More

1 month ago; Comments | Tags: the heavy a considered opinion Brett

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Song Of The Day: Neutral Milk Hotel - Holland, 1945

This one really doesn’t have any relevance to the here and now, beyond the fact that I can’t stop it spinning through my head. NMH, I’m ashamed to admit, are a new fascination of mine, and this track from their 1998 sophomore release In The Aeroplane Over The Sea seems to wrap everything that embodies their sound into one neat package.

Although the band has been on hiatus since just after the release of their second studio effort, NMH’s influence on a range of other acts (to my ears the Arcade Fire and the Decemberists seem to owe this band a great deal) has been well noted by music fans far and wide. Hints of a reunion have popped up here and there, but while nothing concrete has ever surfaced I can now say I count myself amongst the thousands who are waiting and hoping.

1 month ago; Comments | Tags: Neutral Milk Hotel song of the day Brett

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Song Of The Day: The Heavy - How You Like Me Now

Neo-soul rock heroes from the rather intriguing sounding town of Noid, England, The Heavy have been restoring my faith in groove since I first laid ears on their 2007 release GREAT VENGEANCE AND FURIOUS FIRE (an album title that can only be typed with your KANYE LOCK key firmly pressed). The band has a new release, the more humbly titled The House That Dirt Built which was released by the singular Ninja Tune Records on October 2nd of 2009.

For more on the band and their stellar new album, visit their website here.

1 month ago; Comments | Tags: the Heavy Ninja Tune How You Like Me Now Brett

My Name Is John Michael - The One (Live @ Project 3090)

This is one of the few bands where I can honestly say that the live experience is three times as engaging as the record. MNIJM have been disrupting the gravity in my taste universe for months now, pulling everything toward them like a supermassive star that is about to go nova. The video above was shot at Project 3090, the first green/sustainable festival in the big easy.

Anybody who listens to the podcast knows how much I hate overwrought things. With that in mind, do not take my above statement as hyperbole.

1 month ago; Comments | Tags: my name is john michael brett the one project 3090

big rock candy mountain tour imminent

We love our independently minded indie bands here at Some American. More importantly, we love bands that are actually out there DOING something instead of playing the same four bars for a bit of fun. With that out of the way, I should inform our west coast readers that Big Rock Candy Mountain, a New Orleans based quartet who have a habit of blowing the doors off of wherever they play, are going to be in your neck of the woods to warm your frozen winter hearts.

You can also listen to the entirety of their debut, Hey Kid below:

Check out the tour and be sure to check out the band’s site for news, updates, and rumors.

BRCM TOUR
Jan 15 • One Eyed Jacks •  w/ MyNameIsJohnMichael • New Orleans, Louisiana

Jan 16 • Super Awesome House Party • Austin, Texas

Jan 17 • Equinox • Las Cruces, New Mexico

Jan 19 • The Mint • Los Angeles, California

Jan 20 • Party • Los Angeles, California

Jan 22 • Gypsy Lounge • Lake Forest, California

Jan 24 • The Knockout • San Francisco, California

Jan 26 • Biko Co-Op • Santa Barbara, California

Jan 29 • Hailey’s w/Oso Closo and Backside Pick • Denton, Texas

Jan 30 • Mango’s w/Smiley With A Knife and Female Demand • Houston, Texas

Jan 31 • Artmosphere w/Oso Closo • Tour Wrap Up Show • Lafayette, Louisiana

1 month ago; Comments | Tags: Big Rock Candy Mountain BRCM Tour New Orleans my name is john michael Brett

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