Shapes Like Dinosaurs- Cretaceous Calculus EP

Genre: math rock, experimental

Shameless self-plug :) I think this EP turned out really good, way better than the last one, especially considering I used the same terrible equipment. Only four songs, but they are of higher quality? Comments especially appreciated on this one.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ymtwzyinzkn

Pretend- Bones in the Soil, Rust in the Oil

Genre: math rock, indie rock, experimental

So I'm not the kinda guy to listen to 12 minute songs. If you ask me if I like Explosions in the Sky or Godspeed!, I'll say yes. But when did I listen to them last? Years ago. So even though I loved the two Pretend songs on the MySpace page, I was wary when I saw the 7, 10, and 13 minute tracks. Halfway through "Flair," I was about to give this album a 7.5. Been there, done that; they're using the same tricks on every song; this isn't as pretty as I wanted. If you feel this way, pleeeease just keep listening. Then buy 200 copies of this CD and hand them out on the street. Pretend is a specific style, vibe, and presence, and every note is on purpose. This is the kind of thoughtful music that needs to be coming out in 2009.

Think about if Joan of Arc was a jam band, like the best jam band ever, and then they had Dilute's singer. And really rockin drums. It kind of reminds me of a mathier Sagarmatha, actually (The Appleseed Cast). I'll admit, some of the jammy parts use the same fast strumming and five-note-picking a little too much, but when the next section of the song comes in, you are instantly hooked again. The whole album is a journey (to use a stale metaphor) and as soon as you get tired of one road, you get thrown on a hairpin turn. The only places I got a little bored were on the beginning of "Flair" and halfway through the title track, but it's all just part of the process. Have I mentioned the amazing stops and turnarounds these guys throw in every song? The album art is great, the lyrics are great, everything makes this one of the best releases of 2009. My only complaint is that the engineering could have used some tweaking at points, but this really is pretty minor when it is even noticeable. Makes me want to go listen to some Little League... then relisten Pretend.

Fav tracks: "Alive in the Tone," "Those Luminous Noises...," and "Spiral Born Black..."
9.3/10 (Notice how I only rate albums I really like? Wonder why that is.)

BUY THIS ALBUM IF YOU LIKE IT (myspace.com/pretendrock)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BHMDZC6M

Mouse on the Keys- An Anxious Object

Genre: math indie jazz?

Pretty good. Lots of piano. Uh.... take a listen. Tyler's take:

"blog visitors: download this! its two pianos that create a really dense, beautiful sound with some nasty sick drumming."

http://www.mediafire.com/?gktz5fn00zj

New Owen song- "Bad Habits"

Genre: acoustic, neo folk

There's no reason to think this Owen album won't be exactly like the last 10 or whatever, but this new song is pretty good. I think it was on Daytrotter or something a while back, but the full band version is much better. You can listen and also pre-order "New Leaves" from the link.

http://www.polyvinylrecords.com/store/index.php?id=912

Penpal- S/T

Genre: chillout, indie math rock

American Football part 2, pure and simple, which isn't a bad thing. Thanks to Tyler for sending me this. Great for chillin poolside or bike riding in the breeze.

http://www.mediafire.com/?imz4wrz4zte

Doveman- Footloose

Genre: slowcore, ambient

A slowcore cover album of the Footloose OST with mostly sparse piano and drums. And it's actually really good. Be warned, this guy listens to nothing but Low.

http://rapidshare.com/files/255581021/2008-D0veman-Footloose.rar

Hey!Tonal- S/T (again)

Genre: experimental, math rock, dance

I can't not share this any longer. But please buy it if you like it. It's sooooo good.

http://www.mediafire.com/?itymtifm4zz

Mew- No More Stories, They Washed Away...

Genre: indie rock, dream pop

This is possibly Mew's best album yet. There's really not a bad song on here. You've got the rockin songs which are as good as ever, then you've got the slower, dreamy songs that are way better than on the last few records. Then you get to "Hawaii" and you're like..."Damn." Then there's like more songs! Like NO WAY~! Yes way. And the keyboardist gets a more prominent role instead of just mirroring the vocals parts (which he still does some). Everyone kicked it up a notch, basically. Emeril would be proud.

8.9/10

http://lix.in/-4dcecc

Mudy on the Sakuban- Kidnie

Genre: math rock, spazz rock

I could only get the first track to extract, but I think it's because my computer is dying. Maybe you'll have better luck. Sounds kinda like a Japanese Cats^3.

http://www.mediafire.com/?otgdyklcnzn

The Dodos- Time to Die

Genre: folk rock, experimental

Pretty good follow up to Visiter, although not quite as good. The sound quality isn't great, so I figure it's a rough mix or something.

You can high quality stream the whole album here, as well as pre-ordering it (which you should). I recommend "Fables" and "Two Medicines" first:

http://timetodie.net/

Myspace

So I've noticed that I'm friends with tons of bands on MySpace, but very few actual people. So I thought I'd share. Feel free to add me and any of my musical endeavors if you promise to not berate me with fake friend requests and ads.

Me: www.myspace.com/xgood_winx

Music: www.myspace.com/reddogalley (folk rock)
www.myspace.com/shapeslikedinosaurs (math rock)
www.myspace.com/showercurtainonfire (folk/acoustic)
www.myspace.com/lightskits (math indie punk?)

Mt. Eerie- Wind's Poem

Genre: ambient, minimalist, experimental

The sequel to Black Wooden Ceiling Opening. Lots of distortion and blackness and is that double kick I hear? Thickest album of the year. Haven't listened to the whole thing yet but it should be great.

http://www.mediafire.com/?moqtmmnnkmz

Edit: Maybe a little more ambient and atmospheric than I would have liked. I enjoyed the straightforward songs of Black Wooden Ceiling Opening. I can appreciate the artsy-ness, but eleven minutes (track 2)?

Edit 2: This is much more like "Mount Eerie" by the Microphones than the aforementioned BWCO. A little dissapointing. I just got to the first song with actual instruments, track 8.

Edit 3: The last five tracks are really neat, but overall this is just a little too ambient for me. I'd love to hear what you guys think!

Victor Villareal- Alive

Genre: acoustic, indie

Pretty good first solo effort for one hell of a guitar player. He's not very much of a singer and these are actually more boring than I would have expected, but there are some good songs (Tracks 7, 10)

http://www.zshare.net/download/62288765dc8e8c14/#

The Little Hands of Asphalt- Spit Back at the Rain

Genre: indie rock

Elliott Smith meets Bright Eyes, with a little Sufjan for good measure. From Norway, pretty nice to chill out to. But I guess that's all I really do these days.

http://rs16.rapidshare.com/files/244749367/thelittlehandsofasphaltEP.rar

Dianogah- Millions of Brazillians

Genre: indie, chillout, math rock

Great chillin' poolside album for the pretentious indie lover. Very similar to Tenebre or American Football (sans vocals).

http://www.mediafire.com/?klto00jkj01

Flashlight- Poetry Class

Genre: 90's indie/emo

Victor Villareal's early work. Sounds reminiscent of early Sunny Day Real Estate mixed with Wilderness or something. One of my favorite finds in a while. I do like later Victor's work better though.

This link should last a while. Mediafire FTW: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?n22tt5znyjm