So Here’s The Thing
Since we haven’t had enough bad luck already, apparently the powers that be decided that I needed to have more shit on my plate to deal with, so my computer is now completely unresponsive when I attempt to turn it on. Thus, M3 Volume 11 will not be posted today as previously promised; instead you just get an apologetic notice and a promise of things to come. I’ve written up all of my CMJ reviews and while they’re certainly a bit lengthy at times, they’re also chock-full of downloadable MP3 hotness and should be received pretty well once I’m able to post them, but that all rests on the fate of my hard drive. I’m currently waiting with baited breath to find out if said hard drive is salvageable, otherwise you may have to talk a pretty distraught Derek Davies down from the ledge of a high building in the not-too-distant future. All my mp3s are safely secured on my iPod (and yes, by saying that I do realize that I am blatantly inviting the powers that be to wreak havoc on my ‘Pod as well), but all of my artwork - seriously everything I’ve ever made - including three of the six projects that I have already completed that are to be included in my final portfolio for my digital art course, rest precariously in the balance as I wait for the word from Ivy Computers.
We’re setting up our Dreamhost account today so at the very least that will be taken care of once I determine the fate of my hard drive, and hopefully things can be back up and running around here within a day or two. As I said, all the write-ups are done, so upon getting back my hard drive (*knock on wood*) things will be back to normal in no time. Thanks again for bearing with us through this period of difficulty.
Instead of leaving you guys completely hanging with no mp3s with which to satiate your new music hunger, I’m directing you to some other blogs to grab some of the best tracks I’ve heard over the last week, and I’ve even thrown in a GWFAS-approved gem of my own from my ever-growing backlog of Mp3s I Really Should Have Posted By Now.
- Green Pea-ness introduced me to the Tacticians via email a little while ago, and he’s finally posted the band’s absolutely wonderful debut single, “London’s Alright”, which you can and should grab here. While the track is certainly fantastic, I’ve actually found myself more drawn to its b-side, “Hardcore Porn”, which contrary to what its name might suggest, is one of the most delightfully nostalgic tracks I’ve heard all year. Thankfully, the band has made the song available for direct linking and download from their website, so be sure to download it below. Before you leave GP make sure to get on that Harlem Shakes track, “Carpetbaggers”, as it’s really (really) good and provided the official soundtrack to the second half of my CMJ excursion. God knows Derek Davies wouldn’t let anything less than a truly incredible song soundtrack any significant moment, let alone one of the best weeks of his life, so grab that here or be much worse off without it. Here’s “Hardcore Porn” though, before I forget.
- MP3: “Hardcore Porn” - The Tacticians
- The Smudge of Ashen Fluff has ripped mp3s from the Shins live KEXP performance recorded at Gigantic Studios in NYC last Thursday, which I was actually in attendance for. I managed to get a spot five feet from James Mercer at the very front of the studio and witnessed the entire performance up close and personal, which was truly awesome. They stuck with their older material for the most part, but we were treated to two of the new ones, single “Phantom Limb” and “Australia” (titled “[New Song]” in the Smudge of Ashen Fluff post), both of which sounded excellent. Essentially, this is a chance for the six or seven of you who don’t already have the leaked album to hear the Shins’ new material for the first time, so enjoy it and be sure to thank the Ashen Fluff kids while you’re there.
- Holy fuck; Adrian has five new Brand New tracks… and they’re awesome! Something tells me it’s a really really bad idea posting that many leaked songs off such a hotly-anticipated major label release as The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, especially with Interscope’s tendency to shut down these type of things with utmost expedience, so get over there NOW while you still can.
- Most of you probably remember my freak-out over the first released Epic Man track and for all intents and purposes I’m still calling it my favorite hip-hop track of the year; that beat is just MASSIVE. Anyway, Fluokids has got the Sinden remix (here), which ups the tempo and, um, says “gash!” a lot (those Brits with their crazy vernacular!). But it’s good, and you need it.
Hopefully that’ll tide you over for now, I’ll have an update on my computer/hard drive situation for you later today and if my hard drive has indeed been salvaged, you’ll be dancing to M3 Volume 11 all night long as early as this evening.