Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

Hmm... What can I say about Godspeed...
Godspeed You Black Emperor! (I still don't know where to put the !, after the You or at the end..?) is a very interesting band. First of all, to really appreciate this band, you need to be very patient. Because every song by this band is about 20 minutes long, but every minute is worth it. I wouldn't even call them "songs" but more orchestral, "pieces of music" with very long intros that usually have to do with very ambient elements, but before you know it, and without you even noticing it, the music will build up into a beautiful, emotional climax. You will not be dissapointed.

1. Storm - 22:32
   
1. "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven..." - 6:15
2. "Gathering Storm/Il Pleut à Mourir [+Clatters Like Worry]" - 11:10
3. "'Welcome to Barco [sic] AM/PM...' [L.A.X.; 5/14/00]" - 1:15
4. "Cancer Towers on Holy Road Hi-Way" - 3:52

1. Static - 22:35
1. "Terrible Canyons of Static" - 3;34
2. "Atomic Clock" - 1:09
3. "Chart #3" - 2:39
4. "World Police and Friendly Fire" - 9:48
5. "[...+The Buildings They Are Sleeping Now]" - 5:25

1. Sleep - 23:17
1. "Murray Ostril: '...They Don't Sleep Anymore on the Beach...'" - 1:10
2. "Monheim" - 12:14
3. "Broken Windows, Locks of Love Pt. III." - 9:53

1. Antennas To Heaven - 18:57
1. "Moya Sings 'Baby-O'..." - 1:00
2. "Edgyswingsetacid" - 0:58
3. [Glockenspiel Duet Recorded on a Campsite In Rhinebeck, N.Y.]" - 0:47
4. "'Attention...Mon Ami...Fa-Lala-Lala-La-La...' [55-St. Laurent]" - 1:18
5. "She Dreamt She Was a Bulldozer, She Dreamt She Was Alone in an Empty Field" - 9:43
6. "Deathkamp Drone" - 3:09
7. "[Antennas to Heaven...]" - 2:02

Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven

At the Drive-In - In/Casino/Out

Now, just because I felt like it, and because Annis wants me to, I put up another ATD-I CD. This one is their second release and it actually has distorted guitars on it. This CD has shown more growth and development in their songwriting and playing. Also it is a powerhitting, solid, "emo-core" album. Arguably, this is ATD-I at their peak, but i don't necessarily agree. Anyways, this is an amazing CD, and definitely download it know or I will murder you.

1. Alpha Centauri
2. Chanbara
3. Hulahoop Wounds
4. Napoleon Solo
5. Pickpocket
6. For Now... We Toast
7. A Devil Among The Tailors
8. Shaking Hand Incision
9. Lopsided
10. Hourglass
11. Transatlantic Foe

In/Casino/Out

At the Drive-In - Acrobatic Tenement

Oh man. ATDI is a legendary band in my book. After finding them by chance in the used CD section of FYE, I was immediately immersed in them and I soon bought all of their CD's. This is their first release, I believe, but it still is filled with such emotion and feeling that you just can't get enough of it. They actually accidentally recorded this CD with clean guitars, after a mistake by the producer in the studio, but thats what makes this CD so distinct and original, along with the vocals and the songs themselves. Please check this band out, they were called one of the most influential bands of the 90's.

1. Star Slight
2. Schaffino
3. Embroglio
4. Initiation
5. Communication Drive-In
6. Skips On The Record
7. Ticklish
8. Blue Tag
9. Coating Of Arms
10. Porfirio Diaz

Acrobatic Tenement

Bright Eyes - Digital Ash In A Digital Urn

DOUBLE RELEASE: PART 2!

This is a very different side of Bright Eyes. As opposed to the acoustic CD I posted earlier, this CD is more electronic based and poppy. Although it is still filled with meaningful lyrics, this CD has a very, very different feel to it. In my opinion, there aren't as many really good songs on this CD as opposed to I'm Wide Awake, but it is still a very good listen. The song "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" for example, is a very catchy tune, and it will make you want to dance, but it still has amazing lyrics and it makes me want to listen to it over and over (which I do, hehe). I hope you enjoy this CD and maybe you can appreciate the versatility of this band, and see how Conor Oberst's lyrics shine through whatever he does.

1. Time Code
2. Gold Mine Gutted
3. Arc of Time
4. Down a Rabbit Hole
5. Take it Easy (Love Nothing)
6. Hit the Switch
7. I Believe in Symmetry
8. Devil in the Details
9. Ship in a Bottle
10. Light Pollution
11. Theme From Pinata
12. Easy/Lucky/Free

Digital Ash In A Digital Urn

Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Today, I'm doing a sort of "double release" for a couple of reasons:

1. I am very, very bored
2. I love Bright Eyes, and I think I should share some with you.
3. When Bright Eyes released these two CD's, it was a double release, so I feel I am doing it justice.
4. I want you to see the many sides of this band.

This is the more acoustic side of the double release. This CD is very intimate, organic, and heartfelt. If you watch the video for the song "Lua," that's exactly how I envision Conor singing that song. The first song has a very interesting beginning, which is a story about people on a plane that is crashing, but it has a very upbeat and happy feel to it, despite the dark situation. This album is full of a range of emotions, from the soft, loving tone of "Lua" to the upbeat, almost country tone of "Another Travelin' Song" to the inspiring and over-the-top feeling of "Raod to Joy." This is one of my favorite CD's, and hopefully it will be one of yours too.

1. At The Bottom of Everything
2. We Are Nowhere, And It's Now
3. Old Soul Song (For the New World Order)
4. Lua
5. Train Under Water
6. First Day of My Life
7. Another Travelin' Song
8. Land Locked Blues
9. Poison Oak
10. Road to Joy

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Dustin Kensrue - Live

Once I posted my last post, I immediately thought, "I should post my live album of him because he's amazing and he deserves it." I dont really know if this is a legit live CD, I got it from some random link somewhere. Its probably bootlegged. But it's really good. He does an amazing cover of the song "Creep" by Radiohead. To me, his style of music is meant to play live. It seems to be in a very intimate setting, with just him, his guitar, and a harmonica. Like it was played on a back porch of someones house, or in a quiet coffeeshop at night in the city. Definitly get this CD if you like what i just posted below.

1. Blood & Wine
2. Creep
3. Folk
4. Nebraska
5. Pedro
6. Pistol
7. Prodigal
8. Round Here

Dustin Kensrue - Live

Dustin Kensrue - Please Come Home

(taken from absolutepunk.net)Please Come Home is the freewheeling solo debut of Thrice frontman Dustin Kensrue. Kensrue's folk-country labor of love has finally taken shape with a minimalist 8-song release featuring Thrice axe-man Teppei Teranishi and the band's guitar tech, Chris Jones.

The album kicks off with a double-time acoustic number called "I Knew You Before." Kensrue sends a scathing message with sharp lyrics aimed at the degradation of women. Interesting fare, for sure, and it proves quite the compelling opener for Please Come Home. The title track is a rather unexpected ballad that stands proud although at times seemingly scattered. The arrangements feel a little off until Kensrue hits the chorus for the first time, and then he finds his groove. "Blanket of Ghosts" is the surefire sleeper song on the album. Sounding as though Kensrue decided to channel Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz, the song meanders along with an organ-heavy accompaniment (courtesy of Thrice's Teranishi). Many listeners may skip this song, but it reminds me a lot of Duritz's "A Long December," with its slick lyrics, extended solos, and pleasing tone.

The devout singer is not above seemingly confessional songs. "Blood & Wine" is a perfect example, with its dark imagery and lamentations about womanizing and drug abuse serving as a stark warning to all those who may be tempted. The song starts out slow, but eventually speeds along at breakneck pace before finishing just shy of two minutes in length. Short and sweet, just the way Kensrue wanted the album to be. His music dances between light and dark, moral and immoral, fast and slow with effortless poise.

Don't hastily write off Dustin Kensrue because of the religious themes touched upon in this record. Instead, settle down into a comfortable chair and let his smooth vocal delivery and moving lyrics speak to you. Different people will uncover different messages within the songs on this record, and that is the mark of a truly strong, contemplative CD. Avoiding the alt-country stigma, Please Come Home certainly is no "neighbor shot my dog, screwed my girlfriend, and stole my tractor" hell-raiser of a record. Instead, this pleasant, introspective album retains its integrity. Rising above the ashes of his contemporaries, Dustin Kensrue has achieved his dream in a way that few thought possible.

1. I Knew You Before
2. Pistol
3. I Believe
4. Please Come Home
5. Blood & Wine
6. Consider the Ravens
7. Weary Saints
8. Blanket of Ghosts

Please Come Home