Band In Boston

After the epic grandeur of [T]SR[IATW]’s first session, we had high hopes for a return visit. And they did not disappoint. Even the weather set the tone for the slightly darker musical textures this time around: we recorded this during one of the heaviest rainfalls of the summer. The rain you hear at the beginning is no sound effect- I recorded that while the band was tuning up. Song List: 1. Toy Cooking 2. August First 3. Sontag 4. Red 13 5. Aembers/Guggenheim 6. Marsupial Patterns Slowest Runner on the web. Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

We are indeed back, with big big news. Jen got a new kidney, and as we all know, rock n’ roll is primarily processed by the kidney, so this means we’re back to doing this show on a nearly-weekly basis. Thanks to everyone that has been incredible (and there are so many of you!!) during this crazy time. This week is jam-packed with awesome music: Viva Viva, Tan Vampires, John Powhida International Airport, Autumn Hollow Band, Mount Peru, Age Rings, You Can Be A Wesley, Bandits in the Woods, The Dead Trees, The Donkeys, Mikey Holland, The Bright Light Social Hour, Hey Rosetta!, Soccermom, Eldridge Rodriguez, Times New Viking, The Babies, and Earthquake Party! Big thanks to Jess and Katie for the photo. Actually, not the photo itself- they gave us all of those kidney beans. Because they are twisted. And that’s why we love them.

Invisible Hand swung by on their tour with Naked Gods. An entirely different sound, but equally worth your time. Give it a whirl. Song List: 1. Poppy Cock 03:47 2. There’s Room in My Will 03:17 3. Instrumental 02:25 4. My Heartbeat is Making my Ears Ring 03:27 5. Death Bellows 04:26 6. Black Tie 03:23 7. Third Eye 04:14 8. Trees 03:19 Invisible Hand on MySpace Download individual tracks here or stream the whole thing:

Hey, we’re back! The list of excuses for going so long without a release is forthcoming (and extensive, and convincing!), but in the meantime, we have a few sessions from the old Flophouse to let you in on! Boone, North Carolina’s Naked Gods came back to lay down some of the most soulful stuff we’ve had the pleasure of recording (for further evidence, their first session), and did not disappoint in the slightest. Our delay in getting this out seems almost appropriate, as you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better soundtrack to the return of spring. Song List: 1. Hoods Up 04:48 2. Waggin’ Well 05:20 3. Stands in Shoes 04:48 4. Popsicle Swamp 03:12 5. Five More Years 05:38 6. Untitled 05:16 Naked Gods on the webness. Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

Holy crap, we’re back! A year-long hiatus comes to an end. Hopefully we remember how to do this… Featuring Bigger Princess, Mr. Sister, Mount Peru, The Points North, Diamond Mines, Mitten, Brown Bird, Cat-Tooth Jim, Coyote Kolb, Carlisle Sound, See Through Band, Earthquake Party!, Bozmo, Mmoss, Vandaveer, and Nicole Reynolds. MySpace playlist of all the songs.

There’s not much we can say about RoHS that hasn’t been said before. Expertly-crafted pop rock tunes that are just done RIGHT. Song List: 1. Watch Me Disappear 03:00 2. Electric Eye 03:08 3. Hollow Hill 03:33 4. Descender 03:35 5. Something to Say (The Action) 03:43 6. Opal Ann 03:54 Robbers on High Street on the Web Download individual tracks here or stream the whole thing:

The last time Israel Darling passed through town, they didn’t have time to set up the whole band, so we got a great solo performance from Jacob. This time around, we got the whole shootin’ match. Song List: 1. To New York, To Miss Marie 05:58 2. Whistling Dixie 05:46 3. Samson the Mason 04:48 4. I Do Reside 08:28 5. Creatures 05:44 6. All is Well 03:15 7. With an Engine That Won’t Turn 03:40 Israel Darling online Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

No flowery description for these guys – I’m running out the door. Trust us, though. This is some purdy music. We’ll make up for the crappy description with a bonus video tomorrow! Song List: 1. Water and Smoke 02:21 2. Marchers 02:35 3. Dear John 03:26 4. Spark 02:36 5. Settlement 04:21 6. St. You (Constantines cover) 03:34 Dreamtigers on MySpace Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

The New Highway Hymnal certainly hits the genres you’d expect from their name – Bluesy Americana and the like – but just when you’re getting comfortable, they can mix it up with a 60s vibe, or even what could be a lost Janes Addiction track. They’re playing from New York to Maine in the next few months, so be sure to catch them. Song List: 1. When’s My Time 03:43 2. Oh My My 03:51 3. God is Gonna Cut You Down 02:53 4. Get Up 03:43 5. Love 04:18 6. Gimme What You Got 04:00 7. Light of Day 03:37 8. Straight Line 05:09 The New Highway Hymnal online Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

Straddling that strange meeting point between prog rock, psych, post-rock and a healthy dash of good old noise, we were expecting a much bigger challenge to get them to embrace the Flophouse vibe. Luckily for everyone, they took to it quite nicely indeed. Song List: 1. Afraid of Home 01:29 2. Octopus 04:18 3. Pets 04:23 4. Pervert 05:43 5. Haunt 04:15 6. Came as a Glow 04:45 Piles on the web Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

When you have a band made up of about-to-graduate MIT students, you can pretty much guess what they are going to sound like. Lots of computers and samplers, probably some kind of one-of-a-kind instrument made with lasers, and herky-jerky new wave music that could be called the opposite of “Americana”. And in the case of Adrien and the Fine Print, you’d be dead wrong. And with results like these, we’re glad you were. As a matter of fact, the band has just relocated to Nashville, where they are preparing their first full-length album. Song List: 1. A Ghost You Know 03:46 2. Tennessee Swing 04:36 3. Old Hat 03:07 4. The End is Not Near (It’s Here) 03:43 5. Rosalind 02:53 6. Some Women 02:56 7. Whiskey Rose 03:33 8. Strange Dust 03:25 9. Magnolia 03:32 10. Virginia 03:15 Adrien and the Fine Print’s website Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

After seeing a duo version of Tallahassee at the Johnny Cash tribute that we helped put together, we knew we had to get them in for a session as soon as possible. Lead singer Brian Barthelmes honed his songwriting chops as a lineman for the New England Patriots (no joke), but the soulful americana that pours out of this band is probably not what you’d expect from a guy who at one time made a living smashing into other people. They just released their second album, Tallahassee Schmallahassee (a cheeky reference to Harry Nilsson’s magnum opus). Song list: 1. Gypsy Song 04:22 2. Wolfe Moon 03:16 3. California 04:26 4. Jealous Hands 03:51 5. Minor Blues 03:20 6. Open Grave 02:18 Tallahassee on MySpace Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

Stopping by for their third session (check out their earliers here), Brooklyn’s The Press continues to be one of those “Why doesn’t EVERYONE know about this band?” kinda bands. In our humble opinion, their brand new album, INTEOTWIJTEOAE (listen closely and you’ll know what it stands for), finally does justice to the intricate patchwork of rhythms and melodies that almost don’t seem to make sense when taken separately, but combine to make some of the most original and yet accessible songs to come out of New York in a long time. Song List: 1. Kentucky 05:10 2. Do It For Myself 03:29 3. Tetris 06:00 4. Samhain 01:47 5. Lenny 02:03 6. R 05:19 7. When Your Father Gets Home 04:22 8. The Playwright, the Play 02:56 9. Killdare 04:04 The Press online Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

Via Audio came in, wow, over two years ago. In the meantime, they have really honed their sound (and hopefully we’ve gotten better at this whole “recording” thing). They revisit a few tunes from their first visit, and unleash a batch of new goodness. Song List: 1. Oh Bla Wee 02:41 2. Happening 04:10 3. Stars 03:10 4. Tigers 03:08 5. Olga 03:01 6. Lizards 02:29 Via Audio on the web Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing:

It seems like everyone’s been talking about Girlfriends lately. Just a few months into their existence, they’ve been nominated for a BMA for best garage rock band (amidst some very tough competition), and have a cross-country tour lined up that will keep them busy for every single day from July through mid-August. Yow. This Sunday, they’re at Great Scott. You better catch them soon, because if they burn themselves out soon, they’re set to catch on fire. (That’s as close as we get to hokey music critic writing. Sorry.) Song List: 1. Cave Kids 02:22 2. Good to Be True 01:53 3. Bites and Scratches 02:30 4. Slugger 02:58 5. Disappear 03:05 6. Government Seizure 02:48 7. Government Center (Jonathan Richman) 02:02 Girlfriends on MySpace Download individual tracks here, or stream the whole thing: