Digital Meltd0wn

Welcome

elcome to the Digital Meltd0wn Music Blog. The aim of this blog is to introduce the readers to music that is out of print, commercially unavailable, released under a creative commons license, or with approval by the featured artist. The majority of the music posted here would be considered underground. Don't let that fool you into thinking that the music featured here might be any less enjoyable than that of the mainstream artists you hear on the radio, as this couldn't be further from the truth. Please keep in mind that the majority of the artists that appear on this blog, along with their respective record labels, are not wealthy and need your support. If you enjoy the material that you find here, please support the artists/labels by purchasing their material afterwards. If you are an artist/label that would prefer to have your material removed from this blog, simply leave me a comment, and I would be more than happy to promptly remove the offending post. In addition to running this blog, I also work on a few other projects during my spare time. You can find links to those, as well as a few other important links associated with Digital Meltd0wn in the menu bar above.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I May Be Offline A Few Days

I'm in the process of moving at the moment. My internet service will have to be transferred, and I'm not sure how long that will take. Hopefully it won't be much more than a couple of days. I'll try to respond to any questions or comments if I have free time at work, but I won't be uploading any new material until my internet service is back again.

In the meantime, please leave a comment and recommend me some artists/bands to check out, or leave me some feedback on the recent modifications I've made to the blog, or suggestions for improvements or new features.

Redd Kross - Teen Babes From Monsanto

This album is currently out of print and not available on CD, so I suggest you get this while you can.

Redd Kross was the brainchild of Steve and Jeff McDonald, brothers from the Los Angeles suburb of Hawthorne (also home of the Beach Boys) who began playing music together before either had hit puberty. Fueled by a series of dubious visits to famed area rock clubs like the Roxy and the Whiskey-a-Go-Go, they formed their first band, the Tourists, in 1978; Jeff, then 15, handled vocal duties while Steve, 11, took up the bass.

After rounding out the group with schoolmates Greg Hetson on guitar and Ron Reyes on drums, the Tourists played their first gig, opening for Black Flag. Following a name change to Red Cross, they issued their self-titled EP debut in 1980. After the departure of Hetson and Reyes (for the Circle Jerks and Black Flag, respectively), the McDonalds enlisted a revolving line-up of underground musicians for their full-length follow-up, 1981's Born Innocent, which found the group's pop-culture obsessions bubbling over on tributes like "Linda Blair" and "Charlie" (about Charles Manson, whose "Cease to Exist" they also covered).

Following the album's release, the band was threatened with a lawsuit from the real International Red Cross; as a result, they became Redd Kross, and returned in 1984 with Teen Babes from Monsanto. Ex-Black Flag singer Dez Cadena had already come and gone through Redd Kross by the time Geza X produced the seven-song Teen Babes From Monsanto. Running strictly on wicked irreverence, the McDonalds and drummer Dave Peterson turn the spotlight on various musical victims, and the Redd Kross living jukebox bangs out loud and convincing covers of Kiss ("Deuce"), the Stones ("Citadel"), Stooges ("Ann"), Bowie ("Savior Machine") and others, leaving "Linda Blair 1984" the sole original. A record of the ultimate bratty garage band in its element. (Year of Release: 1984)

Credit goes out to the TwilightZone! Music Blog for originally uploading this wonderful album.

Track List
1.Deuce
2. Citadel
3. Heaven Only Knows
4. Ann
5. Savior Machine
6. Blow You a Kiss In the Wind
7. Linda Blair 1984

Download: Redd Kross - Teen Babes From Monsanto (20.4MB)

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

My Wishlist

Since I've uploaded hundreds of albums, and filled many requests, I thought it would be fair to create a wishlist for albums that I would like to have. The great thing about the music blog community is that we are able to obtain almost anything regardless of how scarce it may be. The albums below are on the list either because I couldn't find them, or I'm short on time and need a place to list them so I don't forget to check them out later. I have also listed albums which were requested by visitors that I have been unable or haven't had the time to find. Thanks in advance to those of you who are able to fill these requests for me. So without further ado.. here's my wishlist:

My Wishlist:
Elmer Bernstein - Robot Monster (1953)

New Feature - Table Of Contents

I've made another modification to the blog which I believe will help you to find what you are looking for. If you look to the sidebar on the right, directly underneath my profile, you will see the option to 'Show Table of Contents'. Clicking it will reveal a list of all the posts that I have made in alphabetical order. They can also be sorted by the date they were posted. I've noticed that this modification increases page load time; specifically the time it takes for the portion of the sidbar beneath the Table Of Contents to display. It was more apparent on Opera than Firefox, but it wasn't significant enough to be a problem for me. I haven't tested it on Internet Explorer yet. If you notice that page times are extremely slow, please leave a comment and let me know.

This modication was made possible thanks to Beautiful Beta. Please give me some feedback about this addition.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Show Your Support

As some of you may know I had a graphic design contest for Digital Meltd0wn recently. The winner, a talented guy by the name of Fill, came up with a wonderful banner and button set. If you would like to show your support for the blogroll you can do so by displaying this button on your website/blog. There are also a great selection of banners to choose from which were submitted by the participants of the graphic design contest which can be found here. Thank you for your support.

Copy & paste the code below onto your website

Note: I'm not sure why, but a box is showing up around the button. This has something to do with the blogger layout that I've chosen, and is not part of the image. This box will not appear on your website. In order to view what the image will look like simply right click on the button and select 'open image'.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Tar - Jackson

Part of the Chicago underground scene of the late '80s and early '90s, Tar played a fierce blend of abrasive noise rock and post-hardcore punk, drawing from local touchstones like Big Black and Naked Raygun. However, they were also influenced by vintage punk bands like the Sex Pistols and the Stooges. As they evolved, they were often compared to more metallic noisemakers like Helmet and the Jesus Lizard. Tar's thick, heavy guitar textures and pitch-dark dissonance were an accurate reflection of their moniker, and their disdain for accessibility or major-label exposure was just as accurate a reflection of the scene from which they'd arisen.

In 1988 the group landed a deal with Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles imprint. Tar made their proper debut with the 1989 EP Handsome, half of which was engineered by Steve Albini; they followed it with another 7", "Flow Plow" b/w "Hand." Tar's first-ever full-length appeared in 1990 in the form of Roundhouse, which was produced by Albini and found the band growing more assured in its style. Bassist Mescher left the band in early 1991 and was replaced by Tom Zaluckyj. The "Solution 8" single followed, as did their second album, Jackson, which again boasted assistance from Albini and showed Mohr developing into a stronger vocalist. Tar subsequently departed Amphetamine Reptile in favor of Touch & Go, making their debut with the 1992 single "Teetering"; a split 7" with Dischord emo heroes Jawbox followed hot on its heels. 1993's Clincher EP flirted with the grungy side of electric Neil Young, a trend that continued on the full-length Toast, which appeared later that year.

The band toured the U.S. and Europe in support of Toast, and the latter leg of the tour went poorly. Deciding that they were no longer enjoying themselves as they once had, Tar agreed to go their separate ways after one more album. Over and Out was released in 1995 and was widely acclaimed as the high point of their career, thanks to its greater variety. In the wake of Tar's dissolution, Zaluckyj and Greenlees reteamed in Luckyj, which never released a record. Greenlees also played in Ex-Chittle with former Dis- member Rob Sieracki. Meanwhile, Zaluckyj played with the B-52's' Fred Schneider for a brief period, and also worked as an engineer at Albini's studio.
(Year of Release: 1991)

Track List:
1. Short Trades
2. Cross Offer
3. Walking the King
4. On a Transfer
5. Trauma
6. Dark Mark
7. Goethe
8. Tellerman
9. Land Luck
10. Viaduct Removal

Download: Tar - Jackson (44MB)

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley aka "The Originator", is often cited as a key figure in the transition of blues into rock and roll, by introducing more insistent, driving rhythms and a hard edged guitar sound. He was born Ellas Otha Bates in McComb, Mississippi, and was adopted and raised by his mother's cousin, Gussie McDaniel. He took her surname, becoming Ellas McDaniel. The family moved to Chicago when he was seven. He took violin lessons as a youth, but was given a guitar by his sister and was inspired to become a guitarist by seeing John Lee Hooker.

He worked as a carpenter and mechanic, but also began a musical career playing on street corners with friends, including Jerome Green (c.1934-1973), as a band called the Hipsters (later the Langley Avenue Jive Cats). In 1951 he landed a regular spot at the 708 Club on Chicago's South Side with a repertoire influenced by Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters. He adopted the stage name Bo Diddley, which is probably a southern black slang phrase meaning "nothing at all", as in "he ain't bo diddley". Another source says it was his nickname as a teenage Golden Gloves boxer. The nickname is also linked to the diddley bow, a one-stringed instrument used in the south by mainly black musicians in the fields.

In late 1954, he teamed up with harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold, drummer Clifton James and bass player Roosevelt Jackson, and recorded demos of "I'm A Man" and "Bo Diddley". Re-recorded at Chess Studios with a backing ensemble comprising Otis Spann (piano), Lester Davenport (harmonica), Frank Kirkland (drums) and Jerome Green (maracas), and released in March 1955, the a-side, "Bo Diddley", became an R&B # 1 hit. In 1958 his debut album entitled 'Bo Diddley' was released on the Chess label in 1958. It is a compilation of his singles since 1955. It collects several of his most influential and enduring songs. - Wikipedia
(Year of Release: 1958)

Track List:
1. Bo Diddley
2. I'm A Man
3. Bring It To Jerome
4. Before You Accuse Me
5. Hey Bo Diddley
6. Dearest Darling
7. Hush Your Mouth
8. Say Boss Man
9. Diddley Daddy
10. Diddy Wah Diddy
11. Who Do You Love
12. Pretty Thing

Download: Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (51MB)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Black Mountain - Black Mountain

Black Mountain is one of two circulating incarnations of Vancouver musician Stephen McBean—the other being the more solo oriented Pink Mountaintops. Releasing self-titled, debut albums within six months of each other, these Mountain-family bands have given nostalgic rock 'n' roll fans reason to rise. And hell, even if your record collection doesn't consist of battered vinyl copies of late '60's and early '70's drug-fueled, heavy hitters, you won't be able to resist the gritty grooves of both bands. But, this is a Black Mountain review, so on with the show.

Black Mountain opens the curtain with the first of many assertive anthems. The caustic "Modern Music" declares "One, two, three another pop explosion / One, two, three another hit recording / Four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." – A jab at the state of modern music that makes no bones about it, and I likey. Like much of the album, it's adorned with loud guitar, screechy sax, and some killer Keith Moon/John Bonham style drumming. And if you aren't already familiar with Pink Mountaintops and their superb duet "Tourist in Your Town," you get your first taste of the soulful singing of Amber Webber who takes center stage later on "Heart of Snow."

Following the opiate groove of "Druganaut," "No Satisfaction" sounds like a sunshine alarm after the two previous shadowy efforts. Recalling the Vaselines and VU, "No Satisfaction" showcases more of McBean's cool and Webber's raw soul. The album continues with more blues, prog, and psychedelic rock detailing the sub-genres' highlights with a new and exciting perspective. Citing the Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd among others, Black Mountain somehow succeed in keeping it fresh all along.
(Year of Release: 2005)

Track List:
1. Modern Music
2. Don't Run Our Hearts Around
3. Druganaut
4. No Satisfaction
5. Set Us Free
6. No Hits
7. Heart Of Snow
8. Faulty Times

Download: Black Mountain - Black Mountain (70MB)

Monday, January 21, 2008

VA - The Psychedelic Voyage

Someone requested this several months ago, but I was only able to find it recently. It proved extremely difficult to track down, and I couldn't find out any information about the album, other than it contains 26 tracks of rare psychedelic music from the 60's. If any of you find out more info about this release, please leave a comment.

Track List:
1. Tac Pocum System - Asmodia
2. The ones - Lady Greengrass
3. Kiss Inc - Hey There Mr. Holy Man
4. Gee Brothers - Let Me Find the Sun
5. Keith Meehan - Darkness of My Life
6. Flower Traveling Band - Satori pt1
7. Flower Traveling Band - Satori pt2
8. Lewis & Klark Expedition - Blue Revelation
9. Picadilly Line - Yellow Rainbow
10. Petards - Rainbows & Butterflys
11. Petards - Tartarex
12. Almond Lettuce - Magic Circle
13. Fickle Fickle - Sam & Sadie
14. Kaplan - I Like
15. The Admirals - In the Promised Land
16. The Shirelli - I'll Stay by Your Side
17. Jackueline Taeib - 7am
18. Vanilla fudge - Some Velvet Morning
19. The Sleepy - Loves Immortal Fire
20. The Beloved ones - Land of Shadow
21. The Rugby's - Stay With Me
22. The Pirates - Shades of Blue
23. The shames - Greenburg, clickstein, Charles, Davies, smith & jones
24. Smoke - dream of dreams
25. Smoke - my birth
26. Poppy family - shadows on my wall

Download: Various Artists - The Psychedelic Voyage (92.4MB)

German Oak - German Oak

In the strange Olympic summer of 1972, the Dusseldorf instrumental group German Oak entered the Luftschutzbunker, or Air Raid Shelter, in order to record their eponymous first LP. A free form rock band founded by a small community of 5 German hippies / "avant garde" artists back at the beginning of the 70's. Their self title effort was recorded in a WWII air raid bunker. The cover of their self title album (a militaristic image which is a portrait of the third Reich military force) provides an illustration of anger expressed by the WWII’s young generation against their parents. By consequence German Oak's music is very tortured, dark and weird, dominated by heavy, "distorted" guitar solos & rhythms. The background creates "painful" & "ambient" sequences thanks to delay echoes, electronic "fuzzy" noises & repetitive bass lines. A funkadelic/jazzy felt punctuates with discretion this grandiose, "creepy" instrumental album. A first CD reissue was offered by Witch And Warlock in 1991. Today this album is re-edited by Radioactive records (2005). In a rather discretion they also released the moody, cloudy and experimental epic-kraut "Niebenlungenieg"

Following in the footsteps of the percussive and organic Organisation and the remarkable Dom, German Oak had every reason to believe that this 3rd LP to be recorded by a Dusseldorf band would be warmly received. Unfortunately, German Oak were not only wrong in their assumptions that locals would embrace their music, but even local record shops rejected all the group's attempts to sell the albums in city outlets. Such was their lack of success that 202 of the original 213 copies were stored in the basement of the group's organist until the mid-1980s, when a thirst for undiscovered Krautrock finally brought German Oak back from the dead.
(Year of Release: 1972)

Track List:
1. Airalert
2. Down In The Bunker
3. Raid Over Dusseldorf
4. 1945 - Out of the Ashes

Download: German Oak - German Oak (60.3MB)

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Freeware Music Programs

I've tried to put together a comprehensive list of freeware music programs. If you know of anything that you think should be added to the list please leave a comment. I would like to thank the members of the Neowin community for contributing many of the programs on this list.

Audio Creation:
Ambiloop - Homepage
Canorus - Homepage
CP-GFX - Homepage
Gungirl Sequencer - Homepage
HammerHead - Homepage
Jesusonic - Homepage
Jungulator - Homepage
KRISTAL Audio Engine - Homepage
LoopBe1 - Homepage
MIDI Pattern Generator 64 - Homepage
orDrumbox - Homepage
Reaper - Homepage
Smart PC Record - Homepage
Soundclub - Homepage
TuxGuitar - Homepage
Tu2 - Homepage

Audio Players:
1by1 - Homepage
Apollo 37zx - Homepage
Billy - Homepage
CoolPlayer - Homepage
DeejaySystem MK1 - Homepage
DeliPlayer. Homepage
Foobar 2000 - Homepage
iTunes - Homepage
Jet Audio Basic - Homepage
Juke - Homepage
Mixere - Homepage
Mixxx - Homepage
monoRAVEik - Homepage
MoreAmp - Homepage
MPXPlay - Homepage
Musik - Homepage
MusicIP Mixer - Homepage
musikCube - Homepage
QCD Player - Homepage
Screamer Radio - Homepage
VUPlay - Homepage
Winamp - Homepage
Xion - Homepage
XMPlay - Homepage
Zinf - Homepage

Audio Tools:
Audacity - Homepage
Balthers Graphic Groove Box - Homepage
beatharness - Homepage
BeSweet - Homepage
CUE Splitter - Homepage
dBpowerAMP Music Converter - Homepage
EffecTV - Homepage
Encounter 2003 - Homepage
Gephex - Homepage
GermaniXEncoder - Homepage
iTunes Agent - Homepage
KraMixer - Homepage
Libra - Homepage
M4a/Flac/Ogg/Ape/Mpc Tag Support Plugin for Media Player & Media Center 2005 - Homepage
MediaInfo - Homepage
MediaCoder - MediaCoder
MediaMonkey - Homepage
MP3 My MP3 Recorder - Homepage
mp3DirectCut - Homepage
MP3Gain - Homepage
mpTrim - Homepage
opcode - Homepage
SC Free Audio Extractor - Homepage
SoundEngine Free - Homepage
Vibe Streamer - Homepage
Whorld - Homepage

MP3 Tagging:
Audiograil - Homepage
AudioShell - Homepage
MP3 Book Helper - Homepage
MP3 Tag - Homepage
Mp3 Tag Tools - Homepage
TagScanner - Homepage
MusicBrainz - Homepage
The GodFather - Homepage
TigoTago - Homepage

CD Ripping:
Audiograbber - Homepage
BonkEnc - Homepage
CDex - Homepage
Exact Audio Copy - Homepage

CD/DVD Burning/Cover creation:
Burn4Free - Homepage
Burnatonce - Homepage
Burrrn - Homepage
CDBurnerXP - Homepage
CDRDAO - Homepage
cdrtfe - Homepage
CDR Tools Frontend - Homepage
Deepburner - Homepage
DVDAuthor GUI - Homepage
DVDStyler Homepage
eCover - Homepage
GUI for dvdauthor - Homepage
ImgBurn - Homepage
InfraRecorder - Homepage
ISO Recorder - Homepage
MediaCD - Homepage
SilentNight Micro CD/DVD/ISO/AUDIO Burner - Homepage
Smart CD-Menu Creator - Homepage
Ultimate CD/DVD Burner - Homepage

Compression / Decompression:
7-zip - Homepage
Alzip - Homepage
bzip2 - Homepage
Compress it - Homepage
ExtractNow - Homepage
FilZip - Homepage
Info-Zip - Homepage
IZArc - Homepage
KGB Archiver - Homepage
QuickZip - Homepage
SimplyzIP - Homepage
TUGZip - Homepage
UPX - Homepage
Zip&Go - Homepage

Thursday, January 17, 2008

And the winner is....

As I said in my previous post, choosing the winner for this contest was very difficult for me. There were several entries that were my favorite throughout the contest, and I even ended up changing my mind at the last minute. Entries 1, 4, and 14 were my personal favorites, and I think any one of them would have looked great if they had been chosen as the winner. Someone left a comment saying that most of the entries looked too digital and not enough rock & roll. I would have to agree with that statement. A lot of the entries looked too clean and professional, which would have been great for a computer tech site, but I just didn't think it would be fitting of a music blog. There were banners that might have fit better with the overall design better, but in the end I had to go with entry #1 by Fill from Russia. I was captivated by his work from the very beginning, and I knew as soon as I saw it that the other participants would be hard-pressed to best him. His entry stood out to me as being the most original and artistic, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Entry #4 was a very close second, and I considered making it the winner several times, and had I not changed my mind at the last minute it would have been the winner. To everyone who participated in this contest.. I can't thank you enough for your hard work. There were many great entries, which made my decision difficult. I would also like to thank Sir Real Films and Trinity Comics for sponsoring this contest, and donating such a generous prize package. It wouldn't have been possible without them. Please visit their websites, located below, and help support two wonderful independent companies. I've added the winning banner to the header of the blog, however I'm having a little trouble out of blogger with the placement of the image. I'll try to get that fixed within the next couple of days.

Sir Reel Films - http://www.sirreelfilms.net/
Sir Reel Films Blog - http://sirreelfilms.blogspot.com
Trinity Comics/The Wraith - http://www.the-wraith.com

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Sly & the Family Stone - Stand!

Stand! is the pinnacle of Sly & the Family Stone's early work, a record that represents a culmination of the group's musical vision and accomplishment. Life hinted at this record's boundless enthusiasm and blurred stylistic boundaries, yet everything simply gels here, resulting in no separation between the astounding funk, effervescent irresistible melodies, psychedelicized guitars, and deep rhythms. Add to this a sharpened sense of pop songcraft, elastic band interplay, and a flowering of Sly's social consciousness, and the result is utterly stunning. Yes, the jams ("Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey," "Sex Machine") wind up meandering ever so slightly, but they're surrounded by utter brilliance, from the rousing call to arms of "Stand!" to the unification anthem "Everyday People" to the unstoppable "I Want to Take You Higher." All of it sounds like the Family Stone, thanks not just to the communal lead vocals but to the brilliant interplay, but each track is distinct, emphasizing a different side of their musical personality. As a result, Stand! winds up infectious and informative, invigorating and thought-provoking -- stimulating in every sense of the word. Few records of its time touched it, and Sly topped it only by offering its opposite the next time out.

Track List:
1. Stand!
2. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey
3. I Want To Take You Higher
4. Somebody's Watching You
5. Sing A Simple Song
6. Everyday People
7. Sex Machine
8. You Can Make It If You Try

Download: Sly & the Family Stone - Stand! (56.7MB)

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Graphic Design Contest - Winner To Be Announced Tomorrow

I've finally decided on a winner for the graphic design contest. It was a tough decision, and I would like to thank everyone who participated in the contest. There were a lot of great entries, and I appreciate the work that you all did for the contest, but unfortunately there can be only one winner, and you all will find out who that is tomorrow.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Important Blog News

As some of you may already know, I recently had to take a break to deal with some personal issues that I was going through. Life is much better at the moment, so I'm able to devote time to Digital Meltd0wn once again. Once again, I would like to apologize to those who entered the banner contest. Unfortunately, the circumstances that prevented me from being online happened around the deadline of the contest. Here have a few important announcements regarding the contest and other random blog news.

Graphic Design Contest: Once again I would like to apologize to those of you who entered the graphic design contest. I am currently in the process of adding the late entries to the Flickr account. Once that is finished the only thing left for me to do is to preview how each of the banners would look on the blog if they were chosen as the winner.

last.fm account deleted: Unfortunately last.fm deleted my account a few days ago. They sent me a warning once before for displaying the url to this blog on my profile. I promptly removed the url from my profile. I can think of only one reason they would have for deleting my account. Earlier this week one of my friends on there asked me if I know where to find any albums by a band called Pond. I posted the url to a blog that I ran across which was sharing a couple of their albums. My account was deleted without warning a few days after that. Because of this the Digital Meltd0wn group I created on last.fm has a vacated leader position. I suppose I'll leave it as is, rather than create a new group. I created a new account, so if you were my friend on there before, please re-add me. Here is the url to my profile: http://last.fm/user/zer0_ii

Random Blog News:

Once I've chosen a banner for the blog, I plan to create an introductory post. This post will basically be an introduction/site map that I think will make the blog more user friendly and navigable. I also plan on creating two posts; one for requesting an album, and the other for requesting a re-upload of any album that was previously uploaded, but has since been deleted.

The Digital Meltd0wn Music Blogroll is coming along well. Traffic has been steadily increasing. When I first started it, I was the one asking for permission to include other's blogs on the list. Now a lot of fellow music bloggers are requesting to be put on the list. It's especially nice to see bloggers, from the blogs that I've admired for a long time, visit the site and leave comments. Even if don't run a music blog, and you know of some blogs that you think are worthy of the list, please leave a comment some time and tell me about them.

I've been considering adding a cbox http://cbox.ws to the blog. I've already added one to the blogroll, but it doesn't receive nearly as much traffic as this blog, and I haven't received any positive or negative opinions about it. Please let me know whether you think this is a good or bad idea.

I suppose that's all for now...

Samhain - Unholy Passion

First off, there's a lot of history to this EP. First, it appeared as 5 song EP on vinyl. Then it appeared on the "Initium" CD with an extra track. Then it appeared as the second half of the "Final Descent" album. Now, its back on its own. Another thing to note is that when "Unholy Passion" first game out, it featured Damien on guitar, but somewhere along the way Danzig, as he'd also done with some unrealeased Misfits' material, re-recorded the guitar parts himself (it was rumored that this was done to avoid paying Damien royalties) and I know that this was the version that originally appeared on "Final Descent" and that's also the version that appears here. So you're not really getting the original "Unholy Passion".

Secondly, this contains the 3 best songs Samhain ever recorded, those being "Unholy Passion", "The Hungry End", and "I Am Misery". "All Hell" (an updated version of the Misfits' "All Hell Breaks Loose") and "Moribund" are also good tunes. If you're not familiar Samhain's sound, the best description is sort of mid-tempo punk-goth-hard rock cross that takes its evil much more seriously than the Misfits ever did (but that doesn't mean you have to). And if you wonder why I keep mentioning the Misfits its because Samhain was Glenn Danzig's first post-Misfits project (but chances are you already know that).

There two lowpoints to this release. One is the so-called "bonus track", "Misery's Tomb", which is just the backing vocal and bass tracks of "I Am Misery". Pretty dull. You'll probably only listen to it intentionally once. Then there's the production. Like all Samhain releases, the production was pretty weak. The guitars are mixed too low and the vocals sound sort of muffled. Still, the songs, for the most part, are excellent so they make up for most of the album's weaknesses.

Track List:
1. Unholy Passion
2. All Hell
3. Moribund
4. The Hungry End
5. Misery Tomb
6. I Am Misery

Download: Samhain - Unholy Passion (23.7MB)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club 1963

For anyone who thought they knew Sam Cooke's music based on the hit singles, this disc will be a revelation. This is the real Sam Cooke, doing a sweaty, raspy soulful set at the Harlem Square Club in North Miami, FL, on Jan. 12, 1963, backed by King Curtis and his band, a handful of local musicians, and Cooke's resident sidemen, guitarist Clifford White and drummer Albert "June" Gardner. To put it simply, it's one of the greatest soul records ever cut by anybody, outshining James Brown's first live album from the Apollo Theater and easily outclassing Jackie Wilson's live record from the Copa. Cooke's pop style is far removed from the proceedings here, which have the feel of being virtually a secular sermon. The record opens with the frantic, desperate chant-like "Feel It," followed by a version of "Chain Gang" that has all of the gentling influences of the single's string accompaniment stripped from it -- Cooke's slightly hoarse voice only adds to the startling change in the song, transformed from a piece of pop-soul into an in-your-face ode to freedom and release. "Cupid," perhaps the most sweetly textured song that Cooke cut during the 1960s, gets the full soul treatment, with horns and Curtis' sax up front and Cooke imparting an urgency here that's only implied in the studio rendition. "Twistin' the Night Away" gets two hot King Curtis sax solos, the highlights of a pounding, rippling performance with a beautifully vamped extended ending (with the drums, bass, and White's guitar wrapping themselves ever tighter around the central riff) that never would have made it to the floor of the Copa. "Somebody Have Mercy" leads into a long vamp by Cooke, a brief, soaring quotation from "You Send Me" that could easily have been a high point in sheer intensity -- and then Cooke and the band crank the tension and the spirits several notches higher with the greatest version of "Bring It On Home to Me" ever done by anybody. It all ends with a version of "Having a Party" that manages to be both soothing and wrenching at the same time, Cooke luxuriating in every nuance as the crowd joins in singing, reaching a higher pitch to the gently swinging tune, the drums kicking in harder, the rhythm guitar rising up, and Curtis' sax and the horns rising up slowly while Cooke goes on with his singing, which is more like preaching and the group sounds like it could play the riff all night. It's one of the cruel ironies of the recording business that this unique and extraordinary concert recording went unreleased for almost 22 years, in favor of the more polished (but also more antiseptic and duller) Sam Cooke at the Copa.

Track List:
1. Feel It
2. Chain Gang
3. Cupid
4. Medley: It's All Right/For Sentimental Reasons
5. Twistin' The Night Away
6. Somebody Have Mercy
7. Bring It On Home To Me
8. Nothing Can Change This Love
9. Having A Party

Download: Sam Cooke - Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963 (79.2MB)

Monday, January 07, 2008

Suck - Time To Suck

Official release of this rare South African hard rock album from 1971 that contains wild heavy guitars and screaming vocals
that is on par with any UK underground rock act from that period. Excellent cover versions of 'Into the Fire' Deep Purple,
'War Pigs' Sabbath and an extended 10 minute version of 'Season of the Witch' which is mind frying. Excellent booklet
detailing the history of this wild rock group. This is heavy 70's rock with a real attitude and deserves your attention.
CD reissue taken from the original master tapes. The loudest, most controversial and obnoxious revolutionary
fist-in-your-face rock album of the early 70`s.Suck`s rapacious musical rampage through a conservative South Africa in
1970 is stuff the legends are made of! "Time to Suck" is all howling guitars! Including covers of "Black Sabbath",
"Grand Funk" and "King Crimson"
(Year of Release: 1971)

Track List:
1. Aimless Lady
2. 21st Century Schizoid Man
3. Season of the Witch
4. Sin's a Good Man's Brother
5. I'll Be Creeping
6. Elegy
7. The Whip
8. Into the Fire
9. War Pigs

Download: Suck - Time to Suck (40.6MB)

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Please Read

I have experienced a bit of tragedy in my life. It's not something I feel like going into detail about right now, but let's just say that someone very close to me is in a lot of pain and trouble. I apologize to those who entered the banner contest, but I am going to have to decide on a winner when I am in a better state of mind, and I will make that announcement as soon as the time comes. I'm not officially extending the deadline because I don't know the exact date that I will announce the winner, but if any of you would like to submit an entry until that time comes, feel free to do so and I will consider it an official entry.

I would appreciate it if those of you who are reading this would give your opinions on the banners that have already been submitted to the contest. Here is the flickr account which hosts all the entries that have been submitted to the contest so far: http://flickr.com/photos/digitalmeltd0wn You are the visitors to this blog, and I would like to know which banner you would like to see each time you visit this site.

I hope that you will be patient and understanding as I go through this difficult time in my life, and I will be back to normal soon.

Monday, December 31, 2007

Graphic Design Contest - Sponsored by Sir Reel Films & Trinity Comics

Deadline: Only 1 day left!

Update: I've decided to up the ante a little bit by adding $50.00 in cash, and free advertising, to the winner of the prize package, in hopes that it will increase the number of entries.

I've also created a flickr account to host all the banners that have been submitted to the contest. To view them click here

I'm proud to announce that Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics are sponsoring a graphic design contest for Digital Meltd0wn. I'm constantly looking for new ways to improve this blog, and I've decided that it's time to replace the plain text header with a well designed banner. Since my graphic design skills are sub-par, I am leaving it up to the professionals to come up with the new look for Digital Meltd0wn. What I need is one banner for the Digital Meltd0wn music blog, and one small button. Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics are offering a very generous prize package to one lucky winner. The winner of the contest will recieve the following:

The Prize Package

1 Signed Copy of The Wraith Movie on DVD
1 Signed Copy of The Wraith #0
1 Signed Copy of The Wraith #1
1 Signed 8x10 Glossy The Wraith Movie Poster
1 Certificate of Authenticity
Free Advertisement on both DM Blogs
Music Blogs Stats - Blogroll Stats
$50.00 (US Dollars)

All signed material will be signed by Actor David Cooper and Director Stephen J. Semones. The two comic issues will be signed by the comic creator Frank Dirscherl.

Contest Rules

1. Design a banner and button using the existing color scheme for the Digital Meltd0wn music blog.

2. The banner does not need to be a specific height or width, but it should be no wider than the existing header on the Digital Meltd0wn blog. The button needs to be 15 pixels in height and 80 pixels in length. The button can read either 'Digital Meltd0wn' or simply 'DM'. Both images need to be in either JPG or GIF format. It is not necessary, but if you would like to include PSD files, I would be very greatful.

3. The deadline for all entries will be December 31, 2007. Please include all files in a .zip or .rar archive and e-mail them to to dmcontest@hotmail.com Please be sure to include an e-mail address that I can reach you at should your entry win so that I can contact you about where to mail the prize package.

One winner will be chosen by myself, and once the winner is declared, all prizes will be shipped promptly to the winner by Director Stephen Semones of Sir Reel Films. If you have any questions please e-mail me at dmcontest@hotmail.com and I will respond as quickly as possible. Let your imagination run wild and may the best gfx artist win! I would like to thank Sir Reel Films and Trinity Comics for helping to make this contest possible and for offering up such great prizes to the winner. Please visit their websites and help to promote two great independent companies.

Sir Reel Films - http://www.sirreelfilms.net/
Sir Reel Films Blog - http://sirreelfilms.blogspot.com
Trinity Comics/The Wraith - http://www.the-wraith.com

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Psychedelic Minds Vol. 1 - Heavy Underground 1967-71

This was originally posted several months back on the Chris Goes Rock blog, which is one of the best around imho, so be sure to check it out if you haven't already. This compilation series presents the boiling point of international psychedelic underground sounds between 1967-71: the years when garage punk evolved into heavy psychedelic rock with its wider soundscapes and complex improvisations. VOL. 1 contains a dozen 45-rpm songs by lost psychedelic messengers (8 US bands and 1 from each of Germany, Peru & France ). The groups included are: Blackrock, Sound Machine, Yesterday´s Obsession, Mastermind, Sangre Mexicana, Bhagavad Gita, Protein Bros, Purple Canteen, Los Nuevos Shains, Blow Mind and the A & B-side of the legendary Dirty Filthy Mud. At least 50% of the songs are unreissued and presented with great soundquality and 8 p. booklet. Certainly a piece of wax for Dr. Leary´s students: Turn on, Tune in, Listen again! (Freak Embporium)

Dirty Filthy Mud (Last 2 Tracks):
From Oakland, California, this band recorded their only 45 at Sierra Sound Labs in Berkeley. It was issued in a thick cardboard art sleeve like the Frumious Bandersnatch and Country Joe and The Fish EP's (which explains why it is often referred to as an "EP"!). The Forest Of Black is one of the most blatantly psychedelic recordings from the Bay Area sixties scene, with wild electronic effects and druggy lyrics that seem to have been inspired by Country Joe's Bass Strings.The original 45 has become very expensive and nearly impossible to locate at any price.

Track List:
1. - Blackrock - Black Cloud Overhead
2. - Sound Machine - Woman
3. - Yesterday's Obsession - The Phycle
4. - Mastermind - Turn Of The Head
5. - Sangre Mexicana - Good Cause
6. - Bhagavad Gita - Long Hair Soulful
7. - Protein Bros - Drainpipe
8. - Purple Canteen - Brains In My Feet
9. - Los Nuevos Shains - Looking You
10. - Blow Mind - They´re Coming
11. - Dirty Filthy Mud - Morning Sun Flower
12. - Dirty Filthy Mud - The Forest of Black

Download: Psychedelic Minds Vol. 1 - Heavy Underground (82.7MB)

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Nebula - Apollo

With Kyuss now long gone, Monster Magnet traveling distant galaxies, and Fu Manchu driving their graffiti-decorated vans over groove-rock desert highways somewhere in the distance, are Nebula the last of the prototypical stoner rock Mohicans? Strictly speaking, no, since they themselves were relative late arrivals to the scene, having sprung fully formed from the bowels of the aforementioned Fu Manchu in 1997 -- but in terms of the mostly unadulterated '90s-style stoner rock (psychedelic and space rock-infused, sure, but ultimately grounded in '60s garage and '70s hard rock) heard on their fifth full album, Apollo, quite possibly. Despite what trends would tell you, said '90s movement is alive and well in staple Nebula numbers like "Loose Cannon," "The Alchemist," "The Eagle Has Landed," and "Decadent Garden" -- all of them boasting catchy, crunchy riffs from main man Eddie Glass, Bonham-esque percussion from ever-faithful drummer Ruben Romano, and solid if inconspicuous support from new bassist Tom Davies. Laid-back numbers -- half-psych, half-blues -- like "Future Days" and "Wired" provide mellow detours for nice, diversifying effect, but it's ultimately naturally self-combustible concoctions like "Lightbringer," "Ghost Ride," and "Trapezium Procession" that stand out of the pack -- along with turbocharged, post-Detroit garage rock fare like "Ghost Ride" and the brilliant, Saints-reminiscent "Fever Frey." The latter, in particular, also serves to remind listeners of Glass' always impressive six-string chops (see also the slash-and-burn bookends "Orbit" and "Opiate Float") -- arguably second only to Monster Magnet's Ed Mundell in terms of innate, guitar hero-type inspiration within their generation. And as long as he's in the driver's seat, Nebula will likely be out there, flying the stoner rock flag
(Year of Release: 2006)

Track List:
1. Orbit
2. Loose Cannon
3. Fever Frey
4. Lightbringer
5. Future Days
6. Ghost Ride
7. The Alchemist
8. Trapezium Procession
9. Controlled
10. The Eagle Has Landed
11. Fruit of my Soul
12. Decadent Garden
13. Wired
14. Opiate Float > Orbit

Download: Nebula - Apollo (53MB)

Monday, December 24, 2007

Danny Elfman - Nightmare Before Christmas

This is about as close as it gets to honoring Christmas in any type of way for me. It looks like this one is going to be especially bad for me as my girlfriend broke up with me yesterday and I had to miss my family's party because of work. So I'm shamelessly being a scrooge this year and offering up the Nightmare Before Christmas because the title reflects how I feel right now. I hope that your holiday season is better than mine.

Track List:
1. Overture - Orchestra
2. Opening - Patrick Stewart
3. This Is Halloween - Danny Elfman
4. Jack's Lament - Citizens Of Halloween Town
5. Doctor Finkelstein/In The Forest - Danny Elfman
6. What's This? - Patrick Stewart And Halloween Cast
7. Town Meeting Song - Danny Elfman
8. Jack And Sally Montage - Danny Elfman And Cast
9. Jack's Obsession - Patrick Stewart And Halloween Cast
10. Kidnap The Sandy Claws - Danny Elfman And Cast
11. Making Christmas - Danny Elfman And The Citizens Of Halloween Town
12. Nabbed - Patrick Stewart And Halloween Cast
13. Oogie Boogie's Song - Ken Page With Ed Ivory
14. Sally's Song - Cathrine O'Hara
15. Christmas Eve Montage - Patrick Stewart And Halloween Cast
16. Poor Jack - Danny Elfman
17. To The Rescue - Patrick Stewart And Halloween Cast
18. Finale/Reprise - Danny Elfman, Cathrine O'Hara, Citizens of Halloween...
19. Closing - Patrick Stewart
20. End Title - Patrick Stewart And Halloween Cast

Download: Nightmare Before Christmas OST (56.3MB)

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Buckethead - Monsters & Robots

I'm short on time today, so I'm just going to leave you with this, and put up an offsite review for the time being.

"Mixing metallic guitar heroics with funk, hip-hop, electronica, and a cinematic soundtrack feel, Buckethead's Monsters and Robots is yet another eclectic opus inspired in large part by low-budget monster/horror, martial arts, and science fiction movies, especially those of Japan. Like any Buckethead album, the music does meander in spots, but this outing does improve on its predecessor Colma by employing a variety of guest bassists; Primus' Les Claypool (as well as drummer Brain), Bootsy Collins, and Bill Laswell all enliven the music's rhythmic underpinnings in ways that Buckethead's own bass playing on Colma didn't. Plus, the contributions of guest DJs Phonosycograph Disk, DJ Eddie Def, and Xtrakd are inventive and stimulating, complementing rather than confusing the musical mix. It may not be completely consistent, but Monsters and Robots offers more than enough musical derangement to satisfy." - Allmusic

(Year of Release: 1999)

Track List:
1. Jump Man
2. Stick Pit
3. The Ballad of Buckethead
4. Sow Thistle
5. Revenge of the Double Man
6. Night of the Slunk
7. Who Me?
8. Jowles
9. The Shape vs. Buckethead
10. Stun Operator
11. Scapula
12. Nun Chuka Kata

Download: Buckethead - Monsters & Robots (58MB)

Distorted Pony - Punishment Room

Big thanks go out to Ian from the Shark Fin blog for originally uploading this. It's a new blog, but there is some great stuff to be found there already.

Distorted Pony formed in 1986 as the golden age of Los Angeles' punk/post punk eras were winding down. The duo of guitarist David Uskovich (aka David U) and bassist Tricia Pistay (aka Dora Jahr) enlisted the services of a drum machine after failed attempts to locate a suitable human specimen. Shortly thereafter Ted Carroll (aka Theodore Jackson) came on board to provide additional percussion (ala sheet metal, trash cans and the like) along with Robert "Hammer" Eisenhamer on second guitar. After a 7-inch for Piece of Mind Records, the foursome recorded their "Work Makes Freedom" EP for the long-running indie Bomp Records. With it's repetitive skronk and calculated beats, one can easily identify the influence of Big Black throughout, yet the press was in agreement that while DP proudly wore their influences on their debut, the future looked promising.

Having avoided a fleshy drummer long enough, veteran skinsman London May (ex-Dag Nasty/Samhain) joined the fold and as a 5-piece the band reached a whole new level. In January of 1992, they recorded their first full-length, "Punishment Room" (also for Bomp), on an 8-track in the their house with the help of budding producer Steve Albini. It was later mixed in Steve's studio in Chicago. The addition of a live drummer added new depth, an organic and straight to the gut immediacy lacking on earlier recordings. Comparisons were drawn to acts as diverse as Big Black, Cop Shoot Cop, Jesus ans Mary Chain, Pussy Galore, and Birthday Party.

Track List:
1. Hod
2. Death In The Turnstile
3. God's List
4. Splinter
5. Krank
6. Gutbug
7. Castration Anxiety
8. Powerless
9. Plague Bed
10. Down Where The Dirt Collects
11. Fee Schedule
12. Sinner's Prayer
13. Forensic Interest
14. Blare
15. Pillar Of Salt

Download: Distorted Pony - Punishment Room (71MB)

13th Floor Elevators - Bull of the Woods (1968)

I felt obligated to post this considering I've already uploaded The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, and Easter Everywhere, as well as a few Roky Erickson solo albums. Although the star, Roky Erickson, played a very limited role on this album, it's still a must for any fan of 60's psychedelic rock. Guitarist Stacy Sutherland wrote most of the songs on Bull of the Woods, as Roky was largely absent due to drugs and problems with the law. If the debut was the Elevators' take on sloppy garage, while Easter Everywhere incorporated folksy influences, then Bull is their bluesy album, milking minor chords to death and featuring standard bluesy progressions on quite a few of these numbers.Although Bull of the Woods doesn't match the inspired heights of their previous material, it is still decent psychedelic rock, and pretty straight-ahead and disciplined for the genre.

The biggest thing missing on this album is of course Roky's overpowering voice. Hall and Sutherland's singing is just your average stereotypical acid rock singing - guys who can hit the right notes but cannot convey any real emotional power with their voices. No surprise, then, that the two Erickson-written and Erickson-sung numbers on here stick out as major highlights, even if in the context of the two previous albums they would have looked like minor ones. 'Never Another' starts as an overdriven folk-rocker propelled by the jug, additional electronic noises, and even a little horn section, but then the horns take a left turn and start going totally berserk in a near-avantgarde mood, after which the song picks up steam, adds wild lead guitar and has Erickson throwing a fit right in the studio, in short, a song that begins normally and then goes into all-out madness. And the final number, 'May The Circle Remain Unbroken', is just three minutes of reverberated guitar droning going in circles indeed as Roky chants the title - in the process inventing the blueprint for Neil Young's Dead Man soundtrack twenty-five years too early. As simple and repetitive as the song is, it might just be the most authentic psychedelic recording of theirs. It's also quite moving in a strange way - maybe because it was the last track on the last album of the Elevators and could be seen as sort of a musical testament. After this release, Hall soon left the band, and that was the end of the 13th Floor Elevators.
(Year of Release: 1968)

Track List:
1. Livin On
2. Barnyard Blues
3. Til Then
4. Never Another
5. Rose and Thorn
6. Down by the River
7. Scarlet and Gold
8. Street Song
9. Dear Dr. Doom
10. With You
11. May the Circle Remain Unbroken

Download: 13th Floor Elevators - Bull of the Woods
Download Size: 40MB

Friday, December 21, 2007

Negativland - U2

This will probably be the longest description for a single that I ever post on this blog, and with good reason. I don't believe that any other single has generated as much controversy as this one did at the time of its release.

In 1991, Negativland released a single with the title "U2" displayed in very large type on the front of the packaging, and "Negativland" in a smaller typeface. The songs within were parodies of the group U2's well-known 1987 song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For", including kazoos and extensive sampling of the original song. The song "The Letter U And The Numeral 2" features a musical backing to an extended profane rant from well-known disc jockey Casey Kasem, lapsing out of his more polished and professional tone during a frustrating rehearsal which had gone out to many stations as raw feed and was taped by several engineers, who had been passing it around for a number of years. One of Kasem's milder comments was "These guys are from England and who gives a shit?" (U2's members are in fact from the Republic of Ireland).

U2's label Island Records quickly sued Negativland, claiming that placing the word "U2" on the cover violated trademark law, as did the song itself. Island Records also contended that the single was an attempt to deliberately confuse U2 fans, then awaiting the impending release of Achtung Baby.

In June, 1992, R. U. Sirius, publisher of the magazine Mondo 2000 came up with an interesting idea. Publicists from U2 had contacted him regarding the possibility of interviewing Dave Evans (aka "The Edge") hoping to promote U2's impending multi-million dollar Zoo TV Tour, which featured found sounds and live sampling from mass media outlets (things for which Negativland had been known for some time). Sirius, unbeknownst to Edge, decided to have his friends Joyce and Hosler of Negativland conduct the interview. Joyce and Hosler, fresh from Island's lawsuit, peppered the Edge with questions regarding his ideas about the use of sampling in their new tour, and the legality of using copyrighted material without permission. Midway through the interview, Joyce and Hosler revealed their identities as members of Negativland. An embarrassed Edge reported that U2 were bothered by the sledgehammer legal approach Island Records took in their lawsuit, and furthermore that much of the legal wrangling took place without U2's knowledge: "by the time we [U2] realized what was going on it was kinda too late, and we actually did approach the record company on your [Negativland's] behalf and said, 'Look, c'mon, this is just, this is very heavy...'" Island Records reported to Negativland that U2 never authorized samples of their material; Evans response was, "that's complete bollocks, there's like, there's at least six records out there that are direct samples from our stuff."[1]

The "U2" single (along with other related material) was re-released in 2001 on a "bootleg" album entitled These Guys Are from England and Who Gives a Shit, released on "Seelard Records" (a parody of Negativland's record label Seeland Records). It is thought likely that Negativland themselves were responsible for the re-release, and that U2 gave their blessing; although the Negativland website refers to this release as a bootleg, it is available from major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and Tower Records, as well as Negativland's own mail-order business.

Negativland are interested in intellectual property rights, and argue that their use of U2's and others' material falls under the fair use clause. In 1995, they released a book, with accompanying CD, called Fair Use: The Story of the Letter U and the Numeral 2, about the whole U2 incident (from Island Records first suing Negativland for the release to Negativland gaining back control of their work four years later). The book ends with a large appendix of essays about fair use and copyright by Negativland and others, telling the story with newspaper clippings, court papers, faxes, press releases and other documents arranged in chronological order. An unfortunate side effect of the Negativland-Island lawsuit was another one brought on between Negativland and SST, which served to sever all remaining ties the two had. To get back at Negativland (while wryly circumventing their name), Ginn later released the Negativ(e)land: Live on Tour album on SST.

Negativland were the main subjects of Craig Baldwin's documentary Sonic Outlaws, detailing the use of culture jamming to subvert the messages of more traditional media outlets. There are many other artists who push the boundaries of copyright law in a similar way to Negativland, including John Oswald, the Evolution Control Committee, The Bran Flakes, Countymojo, The Tape-Beatles, Sir Mildred Pierce, and People Like Us.
(Year of Release: 1991)

Track List:
1. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (1991 A Cappella Mix)
2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (Special Edit Radio Mix)

Download: Negativland - U2 (12MB)

Negativland - A Big 10-8 Place

Since a few of you asked so nicely, I've decided to bring you more Negativland. I also have 'Helter Stupid' and 'U2'. If you would like me to upload them, just leave a comment. This is Negativland's legendary 1983 conceptual suburban epic A Big 10-8 Place. Over three years in the making, and with thousands of analog tape splices, this insanely cut-up and uniquely weird release remains the hands down favorite of many fans of Negativland's work. A Big 10-8 finds Negativland's work at its most insanely detailed and heavily edited. The lbum opener 'Theme From A Big 10-8 Place is a misleadingly straight-up pop excursion, but three minutes later you get an almighty plunderphonic blitzkrieg to contend with, in the shape of the first part of the album proper, a thirteen-minute deluge of cut-and-paste mayhem and fast-cutting audio collage.

Named after the citizen's band code for "on the air," A Big 10-8 Place made good use of recordings of people talking over the airwaves. In its entirety, the album served as a kind of documentary of Contra Costa County, where the bandmembers lived (there was even a piece with directions on how to get to Concord from San Francisco, if you were interested in visiting). The album fired the opening volley in Negativland's ongoing challenge against copyrights and what is considered public domain. How much does something have to be changed before it's original? If you say something over the air, is it public domain? Although A Big 10-8 Place posed some of these questions, it was just a warm-up for the albums to come.
(Year of Release: 1983)

Track List:
1. Theme from A Big 10-8 Place
2. Big 10-8 Place, Pt. 1
3. Clowns and Ballerinas
4. Introduction
5. Four Fingers
6. Big 10-8 Place, Pt. 2 (180-G)

Download: Negativland - A Big 10-8 Place (71MB)

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Negativland - Escape From Noise

While the sound collage of Negativland's first three studio albums pointed in the band's ultimate direction, they were really rough sketches compared to Escape From Noise. Escape is a full-on audio assault, more musical than ever, but with tight and well-constructed sound sections thrown in. Instead of simply a collection of sounds and snippets, however, each cut on Escape From Noise picks a target and takes aim. "Quiet Please" takes on market research in the world of radio. "Michael Jackson" is a laundry list of pop stars being charged with creating commercial pop. "Sycamore" turns happy, shiny, new pre-planned communities into something far more sinister. Although some other tracks ("Yellow, Black and Rectangular," "Car Bomb") don't really take on particular targets, they're fun nonetheless. Probably the most accomplished piece is the strangely creepy "Time Zones," which talks about how many time zones there are in the Soviet Union (there are 11, by the way, and it's not even funny). Although it wasn't apparent at the time, the centerpiece of the album would be "Christianity Is Stupid," a prime example of how sound bites can be rearranged to say whatever you want them to say. (The full sound bites appear on the album Helter Stupid, the first half of which was inspired by a media frenzy after the band suggested that a murder may be attributable to "Christianity Is Stupid," as an excuse to get out of having to tour in the wake of this album, which turned out to be a much bigger success than anyone expected.) Scattered throughout the album are unexpected guest appearances from some of the biggest names in underground music, including Jello Biafra on "toilet flushing," the Residents on "hoots and clanging," and the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart on mouth sounds and "processed animals." In addition to better-constructed material, the production quality on Escape From Noise is also top-notch, making it a joy to listen to. Although future works would prove more controversial, this is probably Negativland's masterwork.

Track List:
1. Announcement
2. Quiet Please
3. Michael Jackson
4. Escape From Noise
5. The Playboy Channel
6. Stress In Marriage
7. Nesbitt's Lime Soda Song
8. Over The Hiccups
9. Sycamore
10. Car Bomb
11. Yellow Black And Rectangular
12. Backstage Pass
13. Christianity Is Stupid
14. Time Zones
15. You Don't Even Live Here
16. The Way Of It
17. Endscape

Download: Negativland - Escape From Noise (57MB)

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

NoMeansNo - Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy?

A concept album of sorts.. the question posed by the title isn't answered until the final line of the album, Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy? Like nearly everything else the band has released over the years, this is clear and definite proof of the group's inspired, creative energy. More than once the trio hits amazing rock epic heights that have more sheer lift and charge than most anything that laid claim to the title -- about the only North American band at the time who had a similar feeling (if slightly different approach) was Drive Like Jehu. Songs like "The River," with a brilliant, powerful vocal matching the surging, rising riffs, and the constantly time-shifting prog/metal/punk master-stomp "Kill Everyone Now" sound like they're about to burst out of the speakers, come to life, and go off hunting and slaying. Even in short moments, like the mid-album minute-and-a-half "Happy Bridge," the sheer focus and live-wire kick of Nomeansno would leave most other bands gasping for air. That said, more than once this album found the band working in a bit more restraint here and there, almost as if the best response to grunge dominance was to find subtler ways to make the same point. Thus "The Land of the Living" mostly revolves around a low, snaky bassline that the band makes some righteous but not overwhelming noise over (and often keeps to near silence), building up to miniature climaxes throughout. "Machine" starts off calmer before getting more weirdly strident as it goes, while "I Need You" foregrounds the rhythm and vocals at the start, guitar parts echoing only briefly in the background, bringing everything up with a slow, controlled burn, exploding just when needed but ending on the same tense, threatening note.
(Year of Release: 1993)

Track List:
1. The Land Of The Living
2. The River
3. Machine
4. Madness And Death
5. Happy Bridge
6. Kill Everyone Now
7. I Need You Listen
8. Slowly Melting
9. Lullaby
10. Cats, Sex and Nazis

Download: NoMeansNo - Why Do They Call Me Mr. Happy? (68MB)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

VA - The Psychedelic Experience - Volume 4

This is the last volume in a four volume series entitled: The Psychedelic Experience. This compilation consists of ultra rare 60's psychedelic and garage punk. Many of this songs are only available on this collection, and were pulled from various 45s released around the United States during the 60's garage band explosion. An extremely limited number of these vinyl records were pressed, and even fewer managed to survive. Although most of the bands on this compilation would go on to vanish into obscurity, these tracks still sound impressive after all these years. The Psychedelic Experience doesn't disappoint with it's assortment of straight forward monster garage fuzz rock and roll.

Track List:
1. Perpetual Motion Workshop - Infiltrate Your Mind
2. Captain Crunch & the Crew - Nowadays People
3. Barber Green - Gliding Ride
4. Stonemen - In The Evening
5. Beggars Opera - Escape
6. Fox & The Roadrunners - Illusions Of A Party
7. Famen - Hurry
8. Golden Grass - Elastic Soldier
9. Golden Grass - I'm Crying
10. Stonemen - Faded Colors
11. Reverbs - Lie In The Shade Of The Sun
12. Peabody Hermitage - Something So
13. Barracudas - Wait For Tomorrow
14. Them USA - Her Kind
15. Peabody Hermitage - Fear
16. Group - Why Does My Head Go Boom
17. Long Richard - Force Myself
18. Grapple - Snail
19. Wally Shoop & Fubar - Words In My Head
20. Nightpatrol - Trippin'
21. Mark Of Kings - Realities

Download: The Psychedelic Experience - Vol. 4 (43MB)

The Psychedelic Experience - Vol. 1 - New Link Added

I've re-upped The Psychedelic Experience - Vol. 1 to Megaupload. Sorry for the wait. I'll finish posting the other volumes tonight.

Monday, December 17, 2007

VA - The Psychedelic Experience - Volume 3

This is the third of four volumes in The Psychedelic Experience series. This compilation consists of ultra rare 60's psychedelic and garage punk. Many of this songs are only available on this collection, and were pulled from various 45s released around the United States during the 60's garage band explosion. An extremely limited number of these vinyl records were pressed, and even fewer managed to survive. Although most of the bands on this compilation would go on to vanish into obscurity, these tracks still sound impressive after all these years. The Psychedelic Experience doesn't disappoint with it's assortment of straight forward monster garage fuzz rock and roll.

Track List:
1. Logic Circuit - Motorcross
2. Steve Akin - I'm Trippin' Alone
3. Perpetual Motion Workshop - Won't Come Down
4. Section Five - Pusher's Route
5. Wild Things - A.C.I.D.
6. Inferno - The Inferno
7. Finnegan's Wake - No No No No No (la poupee qui fait non)
8. Electric Company - Scarey Business
9. Kensington Forest - Bells
10. Crosstown Bus - Enchanted Island
11. Lawson & 4 More - Halfway Down The Stairs
12. Hinge - The Idols Of Your Mind
13. Tears - People Through My Glasses
14. Grapple - Ethereal Genesis
15. Flyght - Trifle Cerivia
16. Elastic Prism - Time Change
17. David Santo - Rising Of Scorpio
18. Missing Lynx - Behind Locked Doors
19. One Of Hours - Psychedelic Illusion
20. Renaissance Fair - In Wyrd
21. Scorpio Tube - Yellow Listen
22. Jimmy White & The Relations - Diamond Coated Banana Bush
23. Pompeo Stillo & The Companions - He Was A Guitar Player And Now He Plays Machine Gun

Download: The Psychedelic Experience - Vol. 3 (86MB)

The Psychedelic Experience - Volume 1

This is the first of four volumes in The Psychedelic Experience series. This compilation consists of ultra rare 60's psychedelic and garage punk. Many of this songs are only available on this collection, and were pulled from various 45s released around the United States during the 60's garage band explosion. An extremely limited number of these vinyl records were pressed, and even fewer managed to survive. Although most of the bands on this compilation would go on to vanish into obscurity, these tracks still sound impressive after all these years. The Psychedelic Experience doesn't disappoint with it's assortment of straight forward monster garage fuzz rock and roll.

Track List:
1. Intro
2. Astros. - Space walk
3. Premiers. - Get on this plane
4. Fantastic zoo. - Light show
5. Flower power. - You make me fly
6. One mile ahead. - Contribution
7. Picture. - Evolution
8. Apple glass syndrome. - Someday
9. Kollertion. - Savage lost
10. A Black rose. - Love handles
12. Brass toad. - In the back of my mind
13. Troy . - Amnesia
14. Tommy jet. - Groovy little trip
15. Twilighters. - Nothing can bring me down
16. Inexpensive handmade look. - What good is up
17. Jason Merric. - I'm not what you are
18. Johny thompson quintet. - Colour me columbus
19. Scorpion. - I'm only human
20. Embryo infinity rebirth. - Walls
21. NCG45. - Shiping through the night
22. Stu Mitchell. - Acid
23. Tommy & the true blue facts. - I'm back
24. No title on master cd. - Unknown

Download: The Psychedelic Experience - Volume 1 (100.3MB)
|New Link Added|

Friday, December 14, 2007

The Upper Crust - Entitled

The Upper Crust are an American group from Boston, formed from a surf rock band called the Clamdiggers in '92. They adopt the personas of 18th century aristocrats with titles of nobility, and rock the stage with powdered wigs, period costumes, and a snobbish attitude. After their two studio masterpieces, Let Them Eat Rock and The Decline and Fall of the Upper Crust, the Upper Crust chose to deign listeners with a double live album, Entitled, and it appears that the concept of wigged rockers enamored with '70s hard rock isn't getting any less hilarious.

Entitled includes 25 songs, 11 of which are new. The new tunes were supposed to appear on a third studio album, Once More Into the Breeches, for the Upper Crust's former label Emperor Norton. But Emperor Norton, showing very bad taste, abandoned the project. Some of the new songs are very funny and catchy, while others don't really distinguish themselves. Definitely "Matron," which borrows a bit from an Oasis song and has bassist Count Basie on vocals, "Bleed Me," "Once More Into the Breeches," and especially "Everybody's Equal" (hardly a socialist anthem) rank up there with their gold-plated hits. Of the best of the older material, there's the Upper Crust being shuttled about Hong Kong tune "Little Rickshaw Boy," the extremely rockin' "Tell Mother I'm Home," and the very silly "I've Got My Ascot and My Dickie."

My favorite track on Entitled is 'Everybody's Equal'. "And their assholes smell much sweeter of that I'm sure" is the icing on the cake.
(Year of Release: 2000)

Track List:
Disc: 1
1. Intro
2. Let Them Eat Rock
3. Little Lord Fauntleroy
4. Rock and Roll Butler
5. Rabble Rouser
6. High Falutin'
7. Persona Non Grata
8. Boudoir
9. Paradise Lost
10. Gourmet Love
11. Old Money
12. Tell Mother I'm Home
13. We're Finished With Finishing School
14. Cream of the Crust

Disc: 2
1. Once More Into the Breeches
2. She Speaks the Vulgar Tongue
3. I've Got My Ascot And My Dickie
4. 20 Paces
5. Who's Who of Love
6. Eureka, I Found Love
7. Luncheon
8. Matron
9. Intro
10. Bleed Me
11. Heirloom
12. Little Rickshaw Boy
13. Everybody's Equal

Download: The Upper Crust - Entitled (106MB)

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Queen Adreena - Drink Me

Katie Jane Garside first made noise in the early '90s in the U.K. post-punk outfit Daisy Chainsaw. Her rag doll look of torn dresses besmirched in mud made her vulnerability a quick target for the media. Unfortunately, Daisy Chainsaw only released one album with Garside's vocal theatrics; she left the band in 1992 under pressures of being in the limelight. Eight years later, she and former Chainsaw guitarist Crispin Grey joined forces for Queen Adreena with bassist Orson Wajih and drummer Billy Freedom. They issued Taxidermy on Blanco y Negro in fall 2000. Billy Freedom was replaced in 2002 by drummer Pete Howard, formerly of The Clash. The band signed with Rough Trade for their second album, 2002's Drink Me. Since the band switched labels from Rough Trade to One Little Indian, this album has fallen out of print and has become somewhat of a collector's item to new fans of the band. One Little Indian records have stated that there are currently no plans to re-release the album.

Recording techniques having improved since the beginning of the 90’s, QA benefits from a thicker sound than Daisy Chainsaw’s. They have surprisingly added plain brutality to the expected noisy aspect in some songs. ‘Under a Floodboard World’ easily reminds one of NIN but Katie Jane Garside’s outbursts alternating with out of breath singing illuminate the song. ‘Pretty Like Drugs’ is half-way between Daisy chainsaw and Jesus Lizard. Some riffs sound metal (which might be a good after-effect of nu-metal: ‘Kitty collar tight’). When she does not yell, Garside finds back her twisted changing child-like voice in nonchalant songs that convey insanity and malaise again (‘Sleeping Pill’ industrial experiment, ‘Desert Lullaby’ sounds like an unhealthy nightmare while ‘My Silent Undoing’ is a strange lullaby).

Let’s forget Taxidermy’s mishap, Drink Me is Crispin Gray and Katie Jane Garside’s true come back despite a couple of superfluous songs. If there is no hit such as ‘Love Your Money’, ‘Siamese Almeida’ is an impressive visceral and noisy should-be single played at full throttle. ‘For I am the Way’ ends the album on a dubious impression of awakening. Daisy Chainsaw has been one of the bands which really epitomize the word schizophrenia through their music; Queen Adreena might be taking over things where Daisy Chainsaw left off.
(Year of Release: 2002)

Track List:
1. Pretty Like Drugs
2. Kitty Collar Tight
3. Siamese Almeida
4. Razorblade Sky
5. Sleeping Pill
6. A Bed Of Roses
7. My Silent Undoing
8. Desert Lullaby
9. Under A Floorboard World
10. Hotel Aftershow
11. For I Am The Way

Download: Queen Adreena - Drink Me (51.9MB)

Sonic's Rendezvous Band - Sweet Nothing

Sonic's Rendezvous Band was a rock and roll band from Ann Arbor, Michigan in the 1970s, featuring veterans of the 1960s Detroit rock scene. Led by guitarist Fred Sonic Smith, formerly of the MC5, SRB featured singer/ songwriter Scott Morgan formerly of the Rationals, a soul-influenced Detroit band of the 1960s, Gary Rassmussen of the Up and Scott Asheton of the Stooges.

They remained virtually unknown, but their one and only single retained high interest among fans of high energy rock and roll/ Detroit rock. A badly recorded bootleg LP called Strikes Like Lightning was traded in the 1980s. Artists of note, such as David Bowie would speak fondly of SRB. But lack of recorded material made the band a bit of a phantom.

Interest in the band was kindled in the late 1990s when Alive/ Total Energy Records released a studio recording of the as-then unheard song Electrophonic Tonic. In 1999 Mack Aborn Rhythm Arts released a compact disc compilation of rare live and recorded SRB tunes called Sweet Nothing. So receptive was the audience that a second compilation called City Slang was released in 2000. Both albums quickly sold out.
(Year of Release: 1999)

Track List:
1. Dangerous
2. Getting There (Is Half the Fun)
3. Let's Do It Again
4. Hearts
5. Love and Learn
6. Heart of Stone
7. Sweet Nothing
8. Asteroid B-612
9. Song L
10. City Slang

Download: Sonic's Rendezvous Band - Sweet Nothing (72.8MB)

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Choking Victim - No Gods, No Managers

As requested, here's No Gods, No Managers by Choking Victim.

Track List:
1. 500 Channels
2. In Hell
3. Crack Rock Steady
4. Suicide (A Better Way)
5. In My Grave
6. Fucked Reality
7. Money
8. Hate Yer State
9. Fuck America
10. War Story
11. Five-Finger Discount
12. Praise To The Sinners
13. Living The Laws

Download: Choking Victim - No Gods, No Managers (96.3MB)

Saturday, December 08, 2007

Alien Sex Fiend - Acid Bath

A product of Britain's early-1980s gothic punk movement, Alien Sex Fiend was led by the Nick Wade, better known as Nik Fiend. A staple of the London scene, he made his recording debut under the name Demon Preacher. Several short-lived projects followed before he formed Alien Sex Fiend in 1982 with wife and synth player Christine (Mrs. Fiend), guitarist Yaxi Highrizer, and drummer Johnny "Ha Ha" Freshwater. Mixing the theatrical antics of Alice Cooper with the menacing synthesizer pulse of Suicide, Alien Sex Fiend debuted with the single Ignore the Machine, and would soon follow it up with the full-length Who's Been Sleeping in My Brain? in 1983. A series of indie-chart hits followed in 1984. The success of the album Acid Bath further increased the group's visibility, and in Japan, Alien Sex Fiend became major stars, resulting in the 1985 live release Liquid Head in Tokyo. Following the departure of Johnny Ha-Ha, the group continued as a trio to record 1985's bleak Maximum Security. The Fiends explored more synth and sample-oriented territory on 1988's Another Planet, a trend continued on 1990's Curse. With a revitalized line-up, Alien Sex Fiend resurfaced in 1992 with Open Head Surgery. With the release of the compilation The Singles 1983-1995, the band's affiliation with longtime label Anagram ended, and the Fiends soon established their own 13th Moon Records imprint. With the release of the trance-influenced 1996 EP Evolution, Alien Sex Fiend traveled even further away from their Goth beginnings into the realm of electronica, a move continued on 1997's Nocturnal Emissions.

Acid Bath is arguably ASF's strongest effort to date, and accurately displays the various styles that they have experimented with over the years. It was originally released on vinyl in 1984, and re-issued as a CD with three extra bonus tracks in 1988. The opening track "In God We Trust" starts up the album with the bands usual absurdity of surreal lyrics delivered by bizarre vocals over a dense electronic and sampled soundscape. "Dead and Re-Buried" is a quirky and energetic remix of the ASF classic. She's a Killer is easily Alien Sex Fiends darkest and most haunting tracks, opening with some rather bizarre samples blended with unnerving synth lines. Break Down and Cry is quite a dark piece which greatly differs from most of ASF's silly supernatural themes. It is comprised of very creative use of samples and synthesisers to create an ever evolving yet consistent soundscape, this is all topped off with one of Nik Fiend's most convincing vocal performances. Attack !!!!!! #2 throws in some of ASF's trademark madness to break up the albums bleak atmosphere with grinding guitars, snappy drumming and manic vocals. If you're a fan of the gothic or death rock genres, or just strange music in general, you'll want to give Acid Bath a listen
(Year of Release: 1988)

Track List:
1. In God We Trust (In Cars We Rost?)
2. Dead and Re-Buried
3. She's a Killer
4. Hee-Haw (Here Come the Bone People)
5. Smoke My Bones
6. Breakdown and Cry (Lay Down and Die - Goodbye)
7. E. S. T. (Trip to the Moon)
8. Attack !!!!!! #2
9. Boneshaker Baby
10. I Am a Product (Live)
11. 30 Second Coma

Download: Alien Sex Fiend - Acid Bath (75.3MB)

Various Artists - A Fistful of Fuzz

True to its name, A Fistful of Fuzz delivers a lot of fuzz-drenched material. Rather than being garage punk, however, most of the tracks on this compilation are late-1960s heavy psych, with the fuzz being mainly the acid rock variety. The greatest influences on the material presented are the trippier side of the San Francisco sound, especially the Jefferson Airplane and the acid rock of Blue Cheer, as well as the Iron Butterfly along with a little Doors influence thrown in as well. The themes of most of the songs are: drugs, sex, the generation gap, spirituality, individuality, and generally freaking out. A Fistful of Fuzz contains heavy cover versions of Purple Haze, Season of the Witch, You Really Got Me, and the album closes with a seven-minute freaked out version of Tobacco Road featuring a theremin. The most pop-sounding track on A Fistful of Fuzz, That Was Just His Thing by the In-Keepers, is in some ways the strangest track in this collection. The reference in the title is to Jesus, who "lived and died by the hammer and nail. I guess that was just his thing." Deadly serious spoken word interludes proclaim, "go out into all the world and say these things. And everyone that heareth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man." A Fistful of Fuzz is an all-around good compilation—efficient track notes, better-than-expected audio quality, and most of the tracks on A Fistful of Fuzz are unique to this compilation. - Turnmeondeadman

(Year of Release: 1998)

Track List:
1. John Doe and the Acetates - Purple Haze
2. Sound Apparatus - Travel Agent Man
3. Ruins - She Doesn't Understand
4. Prodigal - Reality
5. Journey Back - Synthetic People
6. Sounds Synonymous - Tensions
7. Pretty - The Electric Hand
8. Aliens - Season of the Witch
9. Ritual - Speed Freak
10. In-Keepers - That Was Just His Thing
11. Loos Foos and the Fiberglass Cornflake - Bless Me Father
12. Flying Circus - You Really Got Me
13. Denims - White Ship
14. Don Malena and the Dry Ice - Land of Summertime
15. Thackeray Rocke - Bawling
16. Tapestry Garden - She Needs Love
17. Green Slime - The Green Slime
18. Peabody Company - Tobacco Road

Download: VA - A Fistful of Fuzz (85.6MB)

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