Free Album Friday: Underwear Meat Clock

The band's name is Underwear Meat Clock. They're a trio with no bass. You can get the entire album here, free. Really, what else do you need to know?

Born To Be A Motorcycle

Famous for its legendary live performances, San Diego’s Bunky makes larger than life fuzzy-sounds and slicked up pop explosions while all the neighborhood kids gather round to watch with curious faces. You’d think the gawking bystanders who amble up to listen hadn’t heard this sort of thing before, which is nonsensical. But Bunky has spit-shined its junkyard hybridization of garage punk, avant garde rock, ska and lovey-dovey balladeering in such a way that you might not even notice. Bunky is twitchy, erratic pop noise, flexible vocals, off-kilter beats and tunes that bulldoze through genre boundaries like a toddler shooting up sugar. BaBa chuy yes-no

Accomplishing Accomplices

Arizona natives and schoolyard chums Jeff Bufano and Chris Corak are better known as Reubens Accomplice. The band has journeyed from high school talent shows to ampitheatre stages, having toured with Jimmy Eat World, Promise Ring, No Knife and others. Critical and cult faves alike, the band's second album, The Bull The Balloon and the Family, features guest appearances by producer Jm Adkins (Jimmy Eat World), David Bazan (Pedro the Lion, Headphones), Jon Rauhouse (Neko Case, Old 97s) and mixing by Chris Fudurich (Nada Surf, Matthew Sweet). Underneath the Golden Grain All Chorus We're Not As Big As We Feel Losing Sleep Live videos: Act On (Feeling Alone) What You Want Gets You

Hip Hop Shops Rockin' Spots

Sol.illaquists of Sound is a four-piece hip-hop act from the Orlando area. Fronted by a male rapper and female singer/rapper, and backed by a female vocalist and a crazy (in a good way) producer and MPC player, the band brings intelligence, social awareness and amazing musicianship to a hip-hop scene seriously lacking in such things. The band stresses community, artistic integrity and following one's dreams, not bitches, guns and jewelry. Catch them on tour now on the Quit Your Dead End Job Tour (alongside Prolyphic, X:144 and SPS, and Glue). As If We Existed Mark It Place And hear more songs on Sol.illaquists of Sound's MySpace page. Also check out this recent Orlando Weekly story on the band. And this older interview with Da Vinci, Sol.illaquists of Sound's producer.

Free Album Friday: Dixie Dirt

Knoxville's Dixie Dirt does not sound as its name implies. The band does not play Appalachian melodies, country, or Americana roots rock. Rather, this female-fronted band is equal parts Neil Young, Sonic Youth, Ragged Glory, with a little dirty Knoxville sound thrown in for good measure. Dixie Dirt makes organic, gritty, and ambitious songs that begin with soft restraint, building to grainy kaleidoscopic intensity. Lynn Point Records has Dixie Dirt's entire Springtime is for the Hopeless and other ideas disc available as a free download (including cover art).

Circle The Russians

Russian Circles are a three piece instrumental band from Chicago. They are, in a word, amazing. Death Rides a Horse

The Men Without Fear

Knoxville's Westside Daredevils blend vocal harmonies together with a three-pronged guitar assault, creating a melodic, textured wall of sound. No power chords here. The 'devils are far more creative with their orchestration. The five-piece's arrangements are filled with thick harmonies, catchy pop hooks, and a variety of styles. This is guitar pop as it was meant to be heard. Heroes and Zeroes Andrea Darling Currency She's a Disguise Chicks in Time Machines Through the Nevermores You Are the Universe

Cue The Band

Cue follows in the tradition of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Mogwai and Austin scene-mates Explosions in the Sky, blending elaborate musicianship with grandiose emotive soundscapes. The band emulates the Post-rock pattern of slow, peaceful guitars that escalate into a frenzied wall of sonic chaos. But Cue does it so well that it doesn’t really matter. Cue more than manages to put its own spin on things. The addition of piano, violin and glockenspiel to these songs, as well as varied, sometimes abrupt, tempo changes, frees the band up to be itself. The resulting dynamic produces short opuses that dive and soar. Cue sooths with its soft, guitar driven melodies, nearly lulling you to sleep with the interplay of low-key bass and melancholic violin arrangements. Then, slowly, the pressure builds, often following the lead of Jason Brister's frantic drumming. The frenzied instrumentation fans in multiple directions, yet ultimately never loses control. The Sun Has Risen Twice Today Handful Savants

Fe-metal

Something like a ferocious hybrid of PJ Harvey, Jesus Lizard, Babes In Toyland and Big Black, Made Out of Babies first captured the attention of the underground punk/metal scene with its Neurot Recordings debut Trophy in 2005. On stage, caterwauling front-woman Julie Christmas paces the floor, yelping with a bewitching intensity that defies her charming beauty and occasionally cherubic whispers. Meanwhile, towering guitarist Brendan Tobin coolly strangulates leaden sheets of guitar strata from his battered six-string, bassist Cooper lunges in time as his instrument rumbles and slithers around Matthew Egan’s relentlessly churning rhythms and blood-splattering drum fills. There’s no rock machismo in the sounds of Made Out of Babies, which just might be what makes it so unsettling and unique. Instead, the group bears a mysteriously unified all-out visual and aural aesthetic assault reminiscent of mid-period Black Flag. And yet, there’s a certain curious glamour to MOoB that gives it a monolithic appeal. Ire Fire Swarm Mr. Prison Shanks

Free Music Friday: Mustard

Once upon a time in the late-nineties Knoxville's bar scene was charmed by a three-piece called Mustard. Fronted by guitar wizard Chris Cook, Mustard was a collection of charming high-spirited guitar pop, infused with elements of 70s metal, blues, surf and garage rock. Sloppy, lo-fi, low-key, off-key, flashy yet restrained, and with an ample supply of fun and a danceable live show, Mustard is sadly no more. Fortunately you can download the band's entire first CD (complete with cover art) here.

TransNorthAtlanticism

The North Atlantic was born on or about October 15, 1999, when Cullen and Jason Hendrix met Jason Richards at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI. Intense house shows and being caught out of their league (playing their second show with Lansing’s Small Brown Bike and their fifth with Cursive) marked their formative years. After relocating to San Diego in 2000, earning three degrees, eight national, self-booked tours and many, many long drives, The North Atlantic is no longer being caught out of its league—they are defining it. The sound of The North Atlantic is stark yet arrestingly lush, a staggering blend of New York post-punk, Chicago noise rock and San Diego punk, all tied together by Jason Hendrix’s drunkenly literate character studies and a penchant for textural embellishment and sonic layering. Scientist Girl Drunk Under Electrics Tour Dates: 09.14 Iowa City, IA - The Picador (formerly Gabe's Oasis) 09.15 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club 09.16 La Crosse, WI - Warehouse 09.17 Chicago, IL - The Metro 09.19 Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection 09.20 Indianapolis, IN - Rock Lobster 09.22 Gambier, OH - Kenyon College 09.23 Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks 09.24 Peterborough, ON - Trasheteria 09.25 London, ON - Call The Office 09.26 Toronto, ON - El Amigo 09.27 Boston, MA - TT The Bear's 09.28 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge 09.29 Wilmington, DE - Mojo 13 10.01 Brooklyn, NY - North Six 10.03 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's 10.05 Dekalb, IL - The House 10.06 Lake Forest, IL - Lake Forest College

Midweek Music Roundup

• Rapper Pigeon John's new album drops this week. • Eminem will be releasing some new songs on an upcoming mix tape with DJ Whoo Kid. The album, tentatively titled "The Re-Up," is due out at the end of October. The collection features new material from Eminem, including a tribute to fallen rapper Proof, as well as material from Dr. Dre, Obie Trice, The Game, and others. See the full track listing here. • There's some new stuff up at Danielson's MySpace page. Check out the instructional video from the first Danielson Famile record, 'A Prayer For Every Hour' and listen to a new mix of "Animal in Every Corner" (Kramer remix) and a cover of the song "Worried Shoes" from the forthcoming Daniel Johnston Tribute album on Second Shimmy Records. This song is a collaboration with Sufjan Stevens. • Damien Jurado will be touring coast to coast beginning September 26 and on through the month of October in support of his new album, "And Now That I'm In Your Shadow," which will be out in stores on October 10. You can download What Were The Chances, one of the 13 tracks from the album. The rest of the album began streamcasting earlier this week two at a time. New songs will be released every Tuesday on his web site. Tour dates: 09/26/06 Provo, UT - The Velour 09/27/06 Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre 09/29/06 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club 09/30/06 Chicago, IL - Park West 10/01/06 Ferndale, MI - Magic Bag 10/03/06 Toronto, ON - El Mocambo 10/04/06 Montreal, QC - La Salla Rossa w/ Two Gallants 10/05/06 Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear's w/ Rosie Thomas 10/06/06 New York, NY - Knitting Factory w/ Rosie Thomas 10/07/06 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's w/ Rosie Thomas 10/09/06 Washington DC, - Black Cat Backstage w/ Rosie Thomas 10/10/06 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle w/ Rosie Thomas 10/11/06 Atlanta, GA - The EARL w/ Rosie Thomas 10/13/06 Austin, TX - Emo's w/ Rosie Thomas 10/14/06 Denton, TX - Hailey's w/ Rosie Thomas + David Bazan 10/16/06 Phoenix, AZ - Modified w/ Rosie Thomas 10/17/06 Tucson, AZ - Plush w/ Rosie Thomas 10/18/06 San Diego, CA - The Casbah 10/19/06 Los Angeles, CA - Hotel Cafe 10/20/06 San Francisco, CA - Swedish American Hall 10/28/06 Seattle, WA - The Paradox • Baltimore’s Page France, who released their Suicide Squeeze debut yesterday, are gearing up for fall tour dates: THU OCT 26 Wheaton IL, Wheaton College / Coray Auditorium? FRI OCT 27 Chicago IL, Schubas ?SAT OCT 28 La Crosse WI, the Warehouse ?SUN OCT 29 Minneapolis MN, Varsity Theater? TUE OCT 31 Ames IA, Maintenance Shop? WED NOV 1 Lawrence KS, Jackpot? THU NOV 2 Omaha NE, Sokol Underground? FRI NOV 3 Denver CO, Hi-Dive? SAT NOV 4 Salt Lake City UT, Kilby Court? SUN NOV 5 Boise ID, Bourbon Street? TUE NOV 7 Seattle WA, Chop Suey? WED NOV 8 Portland OR, Berbati's Pan? THU NOV 9 San Francisco CA, Bottom of the Hill? FRI NOV 10 Anaheim CA, Chain Reaction? SAT NOV 11 Los Angeles CA, Spaceland? SUN NOV 12 Long Beach CA, Alex's Bar? TUE NOV 14 San Diego CA, House of Blues? WED NOV 15 Tempe AZ, Clubhouse? FRI NOV 17 Austin TX, Stubbs?SAT NOV 18 Denton TX, Haileys? SUN NOV 19 Houston TX, Walter's TUE NOV 21 Jackson MS, WC Dons? WED NOV 22 Atlanta GA, Vinyl ?FRI NOV 24 Orlando FL, the Social? SAT NOV 25 Jacksonville FL, Fuel Coffeehouse? SUN NOV 26 Nashville TN, the End? TUE NOV 28 Carrboro NC, Cat's Cradle? WED NOV 29 Charlottesville VA, Starr Hill Music Hall? THU NOV 30 Baltimore MD, Ottobar? FRI DEC 1 New York NY, Mercury Lounge? SAT DEC 2 Hoboken NJ, Maxwell's? SUN DEC 3 Philadelphia PA, Northstar ?MON DEC 4 Cambridge MA, Middle East Upstairs? TUE DEC 5 Hartford CT, Webster Underground? WED DEC 6 Pittsburgh PA, Lawrenceville Moose? THU DEC 7 Buffalo NY, Mohawk Place? FRI DEC 8 Cleveland OH, Grog Shop? SAT DEC 9 Detroit MI, Magic Stick

Eargasmic

Mars Ill is a two-man rap act from Atlanta. Made up of quick-tongued white emcee Gregory Lamar Owens (manCHILD) and Nathan Corrona (DJ Dust), the two bring socially conscious lyrics, beats laced with guitars, and some serious street cred to a genre dominated by g-g-g-g-unit thugs. Sound Off Breathe Slow Piecemeal Shuck and Jive Talk Music A Sound Method A-t-lanta

Flown The Roop

Daniel Roop is the only performance poet in the country to place in the top 10 at the National Poetry Slam every year from 1997 to 1999. He is the only Tennessee poet to place in the top 10 at NPS. Roop is the only poet to finish in the top 2 in three consecutive years at the Southern Fried Regional Poetry Slam. He has appeared on 60 Minutes, and was mentioned in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, after winning the largest cash-prize slam ever, judged by Gary Snyder. He was the first Knoxville Grand Slam Champion in 1998, and defended his title in 1999 before retiring from slam. Roop has been published in Poetry Nation, Burnt, Omnivore, Acorn, and Will Work for Peace. He was nominated for a 1999 Pushcart Prize. He has released four CD’s: The Memphis Poetry 40oz, The Ghost of Daniel Roop, Sunsphere Shots, and Vegan Taoist Thug. Love Poem #40 This Poem Is Not The Revolution Forsooth

Free Album Friday: John Davis

John Davis used to be in a band called Superdrag. A few years ago he found Jesus and started writing songs reflecting his newfound faith. Don't worry. This isn't DC Talk. It's more like what would have happened had The Beatles or Beach Boys started writing blues and pop songs about God. In other words, it's good stuff. It sounds sincere and legitimate, not like someone threw up in a hymnal. To get a free alternate version of Davis' solo debut, filled with demos and outtakes, visit JohnDavisMusic.com, then click on media.

Semi Midweek Music Roundup

• Knoxville pop sensation Jag Star will be releasing a new album this October. In anticipation, the band has three new songs up on its MySpace page. • Death Cab for Cutie has announced fall tour dates. No Chicago shows? Fah! • In the previous post about Sufjan Stevens, I forgot to mention that two tracks from his upcoming Christmas box set are available for download. Get Sister Winter and That Was The Worst Christmas Ever. • Sia (best known for the song Breathe Me, which was featured on the series finale of Six Feet Under) has recorded an exclusive song for American Eagle Outfitters. You can download both it and the video of the song at the American Eagle web site. • Rhode Island rapper Sage Francis has two new tracks available, one from his upcoming 2007 album. Download Ode to 2005 and Raps of Death, which Sage did with Mac Lethal as his perverse alter ego, Xaul Zan. Also check out this interview Sage did with a radio station in Austin, Texas. • David Bazan/Pedro the Lion/Headphones has a back to school sale going on. All David Bazan, Pedro The Lion, Headphones and ultra-rare Paperback (another Bazan side project) items are on sale for $9.99 or less. Bazan will also be on tour this fall: Fri 09/22 - Urbana IL @ Krannert Center w/ Danielson Sat 09/23 - Chicago IL @ Schuba's (early show) Wed 10/11 - Nashville @ Exit/Inn Thu 10/12 - Memphis TN @ The Hi Tone Cafe Fri 10/13 - Springfield MO @ Randy Bacon Gallery Sat 10/14 - Denton TX @ Hailey's w/ Damien Jurado, Rosie Thomas Sun 10/15 - Austin TX @ The Parish Mon 10/16 - Houston TX @ The Prolatariat Tue 10/17 - New Orleans LA @ The Republic Wed 10/18 - Tallahassee FL @ Beta Bar Thu 10/19 - Orlando FL @ The Social Fri 10/20 - West Columbia SC @ New Brookland Tavern (early show) Sat 10/21 - Chapel Hill NC @ Local 506 (early show) Sun 10/22 - Atlanta GA @ The EARL

Christmas In September

Sufjan Stevens's label, Asthmatic Kitty, has announced that it will be releasing a box set of five Sufjan Christmas EPs on 21 November. Read more about it here. At least the first three EPs have been floating around the Internet for quite a while now. Still, it sounds like a cool set, and it's probably a better collection of songs than Avalanche was. Now if David Bazan would only release his Christmas singles on an EP. Sigh.

Queer As Folk

I was just looking for anything that would keep me afloat from that depression. In the event of a water landing your guitar may be used as a personal flotation device. And I don't know how it works. It just stirs something in me. I never knew my heart was supposed to feel that good. I know the world doesn't need another song and it sure doesn't need another songwriter, but it was just the way my heart understood what I couldn't feel directly. It was a compass to follow; it wasn't the destination. And I think it's the same for whatever stirs your heart. You can trust it. You would give up much more by not following it than you ever would by following. -- David Wilcox Eye of the Hurricane Show Me the Key Out of the Question Out Beyond Ideas Grateful for Her Beauty

Overdosing On Soft Drugs

You may know Massachusetts-born singer/songwriter T.W. Walsh from his time in Pedro the Lion and Headphones. Before that, he was a solo artist who put out a handful of acclaimed records. He's also provided musical and production assistance to Starflyer 59, Bosque Brown, Willard Grant Conspiracy, and Crystal Skulls, among others. These days, Walsh is working on his new project, The Soft Drugs. The Soft Drugs - Defending the Paint The Soft Drugs - Don't Sweat It T.W. Walsh - Old Fashioned Way of Speaking

Free Album Friday: Derek Webb

Late last year singer-songwriter Derek Webb released Mockingbird. His third studio album since leaving the folk band Caedmon's Call, Mockingbird is a meditation on faith, politics, poverty and social justice. Beginning today, Webb is giving the album away. You can find it at Free Derek Webb. Webb writes: i love music. i have grown up with music as a close confidant. and i believe in the power of music to move people. there's something remarkable about the way a melody can soften someone to a new idea. as an artist (and often an agitator), this is something i am keenly aware of. my most recent record 'mockingbird' deals with many sensitive issues including poverty, war, and the basic ethics by which we live and deal with others. but i found that music has been an exceptional means by which to get this potentially difficult conversation going. and this is certainly an important moment for dialogue amongst people who disagree about how to best love and take care of people, to get into the nuances of the issues. one of the things that excites me most about the future of our business is how easy it is becoming to deliver music to people who want to hear it. i heard a story once about keith green caring so much that people were able to hear and engage with his music that he gave it away for free, which was a very difficult and expensive thing to do at that time. it's actually never been as simple as it is today to connect music with music fans. and i want people to have a chance to listen to mockingbird and engage in the conversation. so this is why, on september 1st, we're launching freederekwebb.com, a place where anyone can go online and not just hear but actually download, keep, and share 'mockingbird' completely for free. In addition, freederekwebb.com will give you an opportunity to invite your friends to download 'mockingbird' in order to get them in on the conversation as well. we hope this bold campaign will provide a jumping off point for conversations about all of these issues, and communicate my commitment to playing my part in starting them. so please help us spread the word: on september 1st, 'mockingbird' will be set free!