August 31st, 2006 r8e8rcom
Andy and I were suppose to see Supersystem and Bound Stems last night, we ended up drinking with friends most of the night (Margaritas to-go were involved) and missing Supersystem all together. We watched maybe 5 minutes of Bound Stems and went another friends party down the street. I’m not sure if we were just drunk and wanted to dance or they were that bad, but I know they pretty much were clearing the room anyway. An egg salad sandwich, some dancing, and a train ride later I found myself drunk on my couch trying to have an IM conversation with Jon (sorry if I made no sense last night man). Anyway, I fell asleep on the couch.
For reasons unknown my eyes opened earlier than usual this morning. Still on the couch my head was positioned perfectly framing the outside sky through the wide opened window in my living room and I saw a beautiful dark blue sky bleeding a deep red at the horizon. As soon as I realized what was happening the sun peeked over the top of the Brooklyn skyline and I watched the sun rise. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. Part of me wanted to take it as a sign to get up and revel in a day that would truly be life changing, but the alcohol that was still in my veins still had too much influence and I said “that was mad cool”, closed my eyes, and went back to sleep.
Walter Eakman was the name of a 47 year old homeless man who was set on fire as he slept in a stairwell on West 25th Street in 2001. The three teenagers responsible were charged with murder but were eventually convicted of manslaughter and received 10 year sentences with options for parole after only 3 years. When Brian Ward began putting his musical ideas together he chose Walter Eakman as the name for his project. Bleak way to introduce a new musical project, but there you go. Brain wrote and played everything on these tracks.
http://www.insound.com/mp3r/WalterEakman-Track5.mp3
http:/www.insound.com/mp3r/WalterEakman-PaperRoads.mp3
Rapture is just plain fucking crazy. I like this new album more than Echoes so far, what do you guys think.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TheRapture-DonGonDoIt.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TheRapture-CallinMe.mp3
-mark
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August 30th, 2006 r8e8rcom
The Mae Shi tracks are from a split with ‘rapider than horsepower’. They used to be on 5RC, but I’m not sure what they are doing now. They sound kind of like Les Savvy Fav meets Deerhoof to me. I fucking fell in love with the track ‘The Bear’. I know, I know last year was the year of the wolf, this is the year of the bear. Any bets on next year, my vote goes for the chicken. ‘Chicken Mother Parade’ is going to be the Clap Your Hands of ‘07, just like Clap Your Hands was the Arcade Fire of ‘06, just like Arcade Fire was the…..ok you get the picture.
I used to be mad into Sparklehorse, and I still like it. Ok, the opening riff of the first track is a kind of a dear prudence rip, but the rest of the track is awesome. They also have this crispness to the production, kind of brittle, lo-fi, crackly thing (notice I didn’t say sparkle) going on that I love. Andy called me a pussy for asking for this promo, this coming from the guy with Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears on his ipod. BTW, he’s on the list now so give him some shit about it, he fucking loves that crap. Andy, welcome to the list, bitch.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TheMaeShi-ThePotential.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TheMaeShi-TheBear.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TheMaeShi-MassivelyOverwrought.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Sparklehorse-DontTakeMySunshineAway.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Sparklehorse-ItsNotSoHard.mp3
enjoy, and write some fucking reviews.
-mark
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August 29th, 2006 r8e8rcom
Alright, I’m still REALLY wasted from last night. I was suppose to go to an Adem show, but when I realized that no one was going go with me I decided to follow the heard (i.e. the insound kids) and go to my friends (creature presents) show at pianos. Titus Andronicus is 5 and/or 6 kids (all under 21) that play loud, dirty, raw, sloppy, punk. It was perfect. Exactly what you expect a punk show to be. They even told us all to fuck off and then apologized later. Awesome. My friend Billy was there and kept saying they sounded like Dead Milkmen meets Broken Social Scene but he was more wasted than me so I’m not sure that’s a credible comparison. He was also the one feeding me free tall glasses of whiskey so I’m a bit bitter as I trudge through this email still wasted 8 hours later. Anyway I’m sending a few Titus Andronicus tracks so you can tell me what you think they sound like. And because I feel bad for missing him, I’m sending some Adem as well. It should be obvious after listening to Adem that I wouldn’t still be wasted right now if I went to the Adem show.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TitusAndronicus-TitusAndronicus.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TitusAndronicus-FearandLoathinginMahwahNJ.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/TitusAndronicus-ArmsAgainstAtrophy.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Adem-XisforKisses.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Adem-Spirals.mp3
Where have the reviews been lately? Dave, come on. I thought for sure you’d at least make of me for that last email.
-mark
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August 28th, 2006 r8e8rcom
I saw this crappy band the other day. I don’t even remember what they were called, but they had this one lyric that really stuck with me. The song was about two people growing apart (isn’t that what every song is about), but the lyric was “if its so hard to change why are you changing”. Its amazing how many relationships in my life right now that line applies to. Most of the people on this list I’ve known for many years, some all my life, and my relationship with all of you has changed so much. I grew up with some of you, played in bands, shared dreams, some of you I fell in love with, some fell in love with me, and even thought I hated some of you sometimes. I can honestly say that each and every one you (even the people I haven’t met) have affected my life in some way and our relationship has changed. Sometimes it’s a welcome change, sometimes not, but in the end we are all still here and I can honestly say that you are all my friends. The first track is dedicated to all of you.
end of the sentimental bullshit.
I’m sending out some old stuff today. A lot of you are probably more familiar with these tracks than you really want to be. That’s because they’ve become staples in the hipster dance scene. Justice is two Parisian DJs. They mostly do really glichy stuff, but the first track is a remix they did a simian song. The original track really isn’t that good, but these kids turned it into one of my favorite tracks. Yeah, it’s a dance track, but its still fucking cool. The other track is from their EP and while I love the sounds, it really is best appreciated on a dance floor.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Justice/Justice-_%20WatersofNazareth.mp3
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Justice/Justicevs_%20Simian-Never-Be-Alone.mp3
enjoy, and let me know what you think.
-mark
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August 25th, 2006 r8e8rcom
I decided to go see Snowden after all last night. I was compelled enough to ditch my friends and go solo (besides I was hanging out with kids from Heavy.com, those that know the story know why this would be awkward for me). They gave me mad shit for going to see them. Why does everyone hate on snowden, it’s a good f%$king record. They played a short set, which was perfect for me since I wanted to meet back up with my friends in brooklyn afterwards. It turned out to be amazing though. I had a great time despite being drunk and alone (boo-hoo-hoo). Annuals is another BLOG darling band. There’s so much talk about what score these guys are going to get on Pitchfork right now its sick. I didn’t want to like them but when I finally checked them out I have to admit, now I’m asking our buyer everyday for the promo to come in from Ace Fu so I can check out the rest fo the record. It was produced by John Vanderslice and the kid who basically wrote the whole record was 19 at the time.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/annuals-blearyeyed.mp3http://www.insound.com/mp3r/annuals-brother.mp3http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/annuals-dryclothes.mp3 Let me know what you guys think about this band. I’m into them, but I have a feelings it’ll be one those bands that I’m over in like a week. Lastly, just wanted to thanks to Scott for the kind words last night.
-mark
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August 24th, 2006 r8e8rcom
So, I went to see this band Apes and Androids last night at Sin-e. It was suppose to be a good night, Cassettes Won’t Listen, Foundry Field Recordings, then A&A. We missed Cassettes but got see the rest of the show. Foundry was exactly what you would expect, pretty melow, shoegazy. I really like them, but the show was rather boring and I found myself going outside to smoke more than I normally would. I knew Apes and Androids had a pretty intensive live show, but I didn’t know what that meant until last night. These guy are like a indie Queen/Alice Cooper. If you guys have been to Sin-e you know it’s a not a big venue. These guys roll up there complete with a giant talking ape head that covers the back wall behind the stage whose eyes light up red when it talks, they walk through the crowd with strange serpent like things on sticks, and somewhere in the middle of the show the lights go out and they throw out like 50 glow in the dark beach balls. It was a bit much for me and I found myself once again back outside smoking cigarettes with Rhea. Call me old fasion, but I like my indie rock simple, direct, and without eye make-up. Although I have to give them credit, I’ve never seen anything like it, and they were mad tight.
I decided to send some female fronted band tracks today cuz Rhea asked me to last night. Also, I’m still mad into this band Forget Cassettes and I think you guys should be too.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Forget%20Cassettes/Salt/02%20Quiero,%20Quietres.mp3http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/Forget%20Cassettes/Salt/06%20Lonely%20Does%20It.mp3
The Duke Spirit:
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/The%20Duke%20Spirit/Cuts%20Across%20The%20Land/09%20Lion%20RIP.mp3http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/The%20Duke%20Spirit/Cuts%20Across%20The%20Land/07%20Fades%20The%20Sun.mp3
BTW, any of you NY’ers planning on going to the Snowden show tonight at Sin-e?Thanks to everyone for sending your phone numbers…makes me feel special that you all would care enough to let me bother you from time to time. Whats with the lack of reviews lately though. Am I sending crap?
-mark
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August 23rd, 2006 r8e8rcom
I know very little about this band except they worked with Fanatic. Appearently it’s just two guys and they use ipods for their background music on stage (one of them plays guitar too). I know a lot of people call them an MGMT rip-off, but I had no idea who MGMT was and when I checked MGMT out I liked Snakes Say Hisss! much more so fuck them. I’ll send tracks as links from now on if everyone is cool with that.
http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/01SnakesSayHisss!.mp3 http://www.r8e8r.com/mp3r/02SnakesSayHisss!.mp3
btw, I think I may be bi-polar and I’m having one of those I hate everyone days. just wanted to get that out. -mark
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
August 21st, 2006 r8e8rcom
Due to popular request I’m sending another track out today. and because I can’t get this band out of my head I gotta send another Tokyo Police Club track. This ones got hand claps, compressed drums, and adds sci-fi emo lyrics.
I have a microchip implanted in my heart
so if I try to escape
robots will blow me apart
and my limbs will go flying
and land before ones that I love
ok, I’m sure someone’s going to say something about the lyrics. go ahead. I’ll beat you up…..seriously no I’m kidding
I will though
no I wouldn’t
but I will
I will re-iterate from my last Tokyo Police Club email, ALL OF YOU must come up here for the Insound CMJ party (its Nov 2nd). These guy are gonna rock that shit and then I’m gonna rock that shit and GET WASTED. Anyone who wants to join me for a sleep-over on a random brooklyn sidewalk at day break is welcome and encouraged to join me.
enjoy and please comment if you have time.
-mark
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
August 21st, 2006 r8e8rcom
Who knew a weekend of soberiety could actually be fun? N.H. was amazing. I watched a meteor shower in the clearest night sky I’ve ever seen, woke up the next morning and took a swim in a warm lake (with my cell phone in my pocket…don’t try calling me, it wont work), went kayaking, hung out with a bunch of bats in an old barn, started a mock band (details to come), and watch grown men and women do a giant slip-n-slide with a bunch of kids in the rain. Why do I insist on telling you guys about my weekend? Because I can. Small price to pay for free MP3s. Cry about it (sarah).
Here’s a Supersystem track from the upcoming album. If your not familiar with them, this band used to be called El Guapo (DC discord band). This band is much more fun live, or when your SPARKs’d out on a dance floor, and while Im not likely to listen to this on the train or at work, its still good enough to own real estate on my ipod.
I guess no one, except Dave, liked that RATATAT enough to write anything, huh?
-mark
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
August 18th, 2006 r8e8rcom
I gotta make this quick, cuz I gotta go home and get my clothes to go camping in NH this weekend (with 2 dudes, the gayness continues). Anyway, didn’t get to see RATATAT last night cuz Andy and I were wasted and being stupid. Some band was playing when we got there doing these awful Bjork impressions and we just fucking left. Not so much cuz of the band, but because we found out the open vodka bar was not happening….lame. I like RATATAT but not enough to put up with $10 drinks at Hiro, that place is mad broke. So anyway, we bailed, but I heard that RATATAT actually played instead of just DJing.
Ok, so I just picked any track off this record a) because I’m lazy. b) because Im still wasted from last night:
whatdayathink?
-mark
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
