silverunity (yes I am still alive.)Before a few days ago, I haven’t listened to this cd in over 3 years. When I popped in Osker’s “Treatment 5″ into my car CD player my first immediate thought was, “Man, this band is angsty.” Then I remembered how 6 years ago, I used to feel a connection with the lyrics. While I don’t have that connection anymore, this CD is still an amazing album that I love to listen to.
Osker is probably the snottiest punk band I have ever heard. Could be because this record came out the year these guys graduated high-school. I don’t mean their melodic south Cali sound is really heavy (it’s not), but the lyrics are some of the funniest ones I’ve heard in a while simply because of how snotty they are. Sadly, this band broke up 5 years ago (like a lot of the good punk bands that I used to listen to), but definitely pick up this CD (although I’d recommend skipping their second, “Idle Will Kill”, a little to slow for me). Oh yeah, apparently this band was featured in the movie “Crazy Beautiful” (I’ve never seen it, but they’re the band that’s playing at a party or something). So yeah, if you ever wondered who that was, it’s these guys.

MP3: Osker – Panic
MP3: Osker – Stop The Bus
MP3: Osker – Dying

Buy Osker
Amazon.com

Sasha:Bush presidency got you down? Swamped with end of the semester papers? There is a light at the end of the tunnel friends, only a couple months left of school and as for Bush… well that next election will be here eventually. But if that’s not good enough and you’ve already succumbed completely to depression the wonderful Yer Bird Records can provide you with some sulking music. Comfort yourself by weeping quietly to Matthew Ryan, embrace your oncoming fate with The Gunshy’s terrifying death rattle and have yourself a pre-apocalyptic party with O’death. Folk Music for the End of the World also features songs from Paleo, Alina Simone, Chauchat, Hayden, Allyn Latorre, J. Tillman, Oweihops, Sarah White, Elephant Micah, Nic Garcia, The Hotel Ghost, Travel By Sea and Hezekiah Jones.

MP3: Hayden- Message From London
MP3: O’death- Angeline

Buy Folk Music for the End of the World:
Yer Bird Records

Sasha:

Well it looks like there is no Neutral Milk Hotel show, it was all the early April fools day joke from the folks over at Tiny Mix Tapes.

MP3: Neutral Milk Hotel- Holland, 1945
MP3: Neutral Milk Hotel- Circle of Friends
MP3: Neutral Milk Hotel- Bucket

Buy Neutral Milk Hotel:
Insound
Amazon

Sasha:

I read an interview at Billboard.com with New Pornographers member Carl Newman about the new album they’re recording and I haven’t calmed down since. It may be out as early as August AND they’re planning a tour, Neko Case included!

Newman described the new album during the interview saying: “We realized, we can do any kind of song we want on our albums. This record is an extension of that. It is maybe slightly more epic. It has our first song that passes the six-minute-long mark. In fact, it might have our first songs that pass the five-minute mark!”

MP3: The New Pornographers- When I Was A Baby
MP3: The New Pornographers- Sing Me Spanish Techno

Buy New Pornographers:
Insound
Amazon

Sasha:Monday night I had the good fortune of seeing Bishop Allen, +/-, and Say Hi to Your Mom. Originally I wasn’t planning on going because the show was an hour away and nobody would come with me but after reading all the great reviews of Bishop Allen’s SXSW show I couldn’t stay away. It was absolutely worth the trip. Even though they opened and had the shortest set I think the standout band was Say Hi to Your Mom. Eric Elbogen rocked particularly hard during “These Fangs,” “Sweet Sweet Heartkiller,” and “Let’s Talk About Spaceships.” The only downside of the show was that now I’ve met both Owen Ashworth of Casiotone for the Painfully Alone and Eric Elbogen of Say Hi to Your Mom and I can safely say they are not the same person (hopefully my next indierock conspiracy theory will prove more fruitful.)

Bishop Allen was also put on an amazing show. There was dancing and shouting and maracas and a ukulele! What more could you ask for?

MP3: Say Hi to Your Mom- Lets Talk About Spaceships
MP3: Bishop Allen- Things Are What You Make of Them

Buy Say Hi to Your Mom:
Insound
Amazon
Buy Bishop Allen:
Amazon

I think the Arcade Fire are great, but I never really understood people’s fanatical devotion to them… before seeing this. It’s a “take-away show” done for La Blogotheque at Olympia Hall in Paris. Enjoy the elevator performance of Neon Bible and stick around for Wake Up.

Sasha:Sometimes I to think back to the golden days of Nickolodeon where I could watch Salute Your Shorts, Clarissa Explains it All, Hey Dude and best of all Pete and Pete. The makers of Pete and Pete must have maxed out all their scene points getting guest stars like Iggy Pop, Steve Buscemi, Selma Blair, Janeane Garofalo, LL Cool J, Luscious Jackson, Micheal Stipe and so many more I can’t name them all. The show even played music from indie rockers like Magnetic Fields and The Apples in Stereo. Their in-house band was Connecticut’s Polaris. Whenever I listen to Polaris now I still feel like I’m transported to the fictional town of Wellsville keeping my eyes peeled for Mr. Tastee. So load these MP3s onto your KrebStar music player and enjoy.

MP3: Polaris- Hey Sandy
The theme song to Pete and Pete, this is probably the most well known Polaris song, although nobody seems to know what they’re singing.

MP3: Polaris- Summerbaby
This song appeared in the episode Hard Days Pete where Pete finds his favorite song. Since it was a kids show they had to change the lyric “Every drop of sex, and every little mess I make” to “every time I guess, and every little mess I make.”

MP3: Polaris- Waiting for October
Just a really great feel-good song.

Buy Polaris:
Insound
Amazon

Skate punk, melodic, sweetness. If this was the game Tribound, the answer would be Lagwagon. I really don’t have much to say since I’m so damn tired, so just check the songs out yourself.

MP3: Lagwagon – Razor Burn
This is song is really damn catchy, and pretty funny in a ridiculous way. About
how his girlfriend broke up with him, so he’s going to grow a beard to show
his shame.

MP3: Lagwagon – Violins
I listened to this song 6 times… yesterday. Impressive for someone who never
listens to the same cd within a week period. The breakdown at the end of the
song is what really makes it for me.

MP3: Lagwagon – May 16th
Probably their most popular song, and definitely their catchiest, it’s the song
that got me into this band 6 years ago.

Buy:
Fatwreck

Sasha:I’m in a great mood, maybe because it’s Friday, but I thought I post some happy music. Bridging the gap between second and third wave ska the Toasters are one of my favorite ska bands. I’ve seen some amazing shows these past few years but none of them hold the same place in my heart as the Toasters shows I saw in high school at the crappy local venue. Just try listening to these songs without smiling. Get out your two-tone! Start skanking! Get rude!

MP3: The Toasters- Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down
MP3: The Toasters- 2-Tone Army

Buy Toasters:
Insound
Amazon

Sasha:

If I learned one thing seeing Ted Leo at Pitchfork last summer it’s that he’s punk rocker. Don’t believe me? Take a listen to his new album Living With the Living; in this release he returns to his earlier sound and I couldn’t be happier. He’s fast, he’s political, he rocks. For those of you who loved The Tyranny of Distance, no worries I think even moving in this direction he keeps his pop sensibilities (check out C.I.A. especially.)

MP3: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- Bomb. Repeat. Bomb.
MP3: Ted Leo and the Pharmacists- C.I.A.

Buy Ted Leo:
Insound
Amazon