Mixtape: The Break-Up Part 2

Well it happened again. A break-up. Which made me revisit the playlist I made last time. Man there were some great songs on there, that covered all the feelings I had. This time around it's a different situation, but it hasn't stopped me making a playlist of new break-up songs!

I was tempted to just list every Brand New song ever (which is my defacto sad soundtrack) but I decided to challenge myself instead.

1. Dangers - (Love Poem)

This album is just pure emotional angst, from the first lyrics to the very end. But there's a theme throughout the whole album, with just small samples that pop up between songs, which culminates right at the end. Sure, it's not a proper song, but it's a great way to start it.

It's so nice to wake up in the morning and not have to tell somebody you love them, when you don't love them anymore

2. Descendents - Everything Sux

Before songs about teenage angst were cool, the Descendents were writing about it. And when your heart is broken, it really does feel like everything sucks today.

My girlfriend's moving this morning
I don't think anything is gonna be okay today
Everything sucks todayGot up on the wrong side of life this morning
Nothing today is gonna go my way

3. Finch - Letters to You

A lot of break-up songs come from my youth. Like this, quite possibly the poppiest song Finch ever wrote (and their most mainstream successful, if memory serves me right). Later on, with their second album about the most random stuff (I think it was drug influenced) they would become one of my favourite bands. But with their first album, it was quite cliche heartbreak/emo.

I'm writing again these letters to you aren't much, I know
But i'm not sleeping and you're not here
The thought stops my heart
Do you notice i'm gone?
Where do you run to so far away?
I want you to know that I miss you, I miss you so

4. I Killed the Prom Queen - Say Goodbye

Yes. It's cheesy metalcore. But back in the day this was MY cheesy metalcore. I loved this album by I Killed the Prom Queen. Most of it was comparing love to death, as was the fashion back then. And this song helps you get some of the break-up related anger out.

So we say goodbye
Heartstrings severed just as quick
As they were discovered
I'll break my own fall, to keep you, picture perfect
Just don't wake me up now

5. Wilco - I am Trying to Break Your Heart

When it's time to get sad, quiet and reflective, what is better than the wavering quality of Jeff Tweedy's voice? His voice in this song just captures the raw edge of emotion that you sit on during a break-up.

I'd always thought that if I held you tightly
You'd always love me like you did back then
Then I fell asleep and the city kept blinking
What was I thinking when I let you back in?
I am trying to break your heart
But still I'd be lying if I said it wasn't easy

6. Bob Dylan - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Oh Dylan. Is there anything you can't sing about without making it beautiful? This song was him explaining why he left his girlfriend at the time. Right now, I'm imagining this song is exactly how she's feeling.

But I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talking anyway
So don't think twice, it's all right.

7. My Chemical Romance - Honey, This Mirror Isn't Big Enough for the Both of Us

Where as Mr Dylan gave us a poetic side of being the dumper, Gerard Way is showing the chaotic break down of a break-up. This song was the first real track (not including the instrumental opener) from their first album. Like a lot of break-up songs, it comes from the teenage emo years of my life. I still love this album unashamedly.

And you can cry all you want to, I don't care how much
You'll invest yourself in me, we're not working out
And you can't touch my brother and you can't keep my friends
and we're not working out
This time I mean it, never mind the times I've seen it

8. The Walkmen - The Rat

Another song of the 2003-2005 period of my life. It was big for me. I moved back to Australia from the USA, leaving behind someone dear to me as well as everything I knew. This song was so different from everything else on their debut album, and it hit a nerve with me. I may have wept when I finally saw this song live last year.

You've got a nerve to be asking a favor
You've got a nerve to be calling my number
I'm sure we've been through this before
Can't you hear me, I'm beating on your wall?
Can't you see me, I'm pounding on your door?

9. Atreyu - Right Side of the Bed

Ahh. Far out. 2003 again. Kind of cheesy metalcore again with overtones of death. But it's just good.

I can see her now, Dancing around, her drink in hand.
All her baggage in tow, I just want to forget and let go of all the love the joy,
the pain. I took your guilt and placed it into me and now I kiss it goodbye.

10. Los Campesinos! - Romance is Boring

Not about a break-up per se, but more about the slow death of love that both of you seem to ignore until it gets to that fatal point.

You're pouting in your sleep, I'm waking still yawning
We're proving to each other that romance is boring
Sure there are things I could do if I was half prepared to
Prove to each other that romance is boring

11. Billy Talent - The Ex

I'm not at this point yet, but I imagine I'll be following the course of the lyrics in this song pretty closely.

Why would she put me through such torture,
I would have given my life for her,
She was the one that knocked me over,
Now I'm alone sitting on the corner

12. The Get Up Kids - Mass Pike

You want real sad emo? You get old school Get Up Kids. All of the emotions. Especially when someone does it with a montague of pictures of love.

I wonder when I wander home If I'll be fit to drink alone.
Sleep with my memories, Pictures, apologies.
For every minute yesterday, Regret reminds me anyway.
If I remember anything, I'll make mistakes again. 

13. Bomb the Music Industry! - I Don't Love You Anymore

This song has always won my award as the best fan-made video ever. It's been stuck in my head since seeing BTMI! in February and I haven't been able to stop singing it. I hope it didn't become a pre-cursor for everything. The Lost line also resembles me way too much. And a bit of ska in a mix tape is always good to cheer up the soul.

I don't love you anymore.
No this isn't some mistake.
For the past two months I've just been getting drunk
And watching Lost and then getting even drunker just so I can fall asleep.
Every second I'm with you I get an ache in my head
And I spin in my bed and again and again and again and again.

And all the money I spend is my money again
I'll understand what is said when I'm out with my friends.
And at the end of the night, baby I'm'a gon' drive 'em home.

And all the time that I waste repeating mistake
And the ridiculous taste and the look on my face.
I'm gonna take it back.
Baby I don't love you no more.

14. No Doubt - Don't Speak

It's well known that Gwen and the bass player who's name escapes me were dating before the release of this album. This song beautifully documents the break up.

You and me
We used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel
That I'm losing my best friend
I can't believe
This could be the end 

15. New Found Glory - Hit or Miss

Pop-punk. Of all the genres I listen to, I don't think you'll find as many whiny sounding songs about love and regrets. New Found Glory is probably the best of them all.

Have I waited too long
Have I found that someone
Have I waited too long to see you

Maybe it's for the best
Maybe it's not for anything
It wouldn't be so bad to take this right from me

16. Rod Stewart - Maggie May

Time to move away from my teenage years and into the classics again. This song, as far as I can tell, is about the failed fling between a young male and his older, richer lover. It captures the moment when Rod is deciding to end it.

I know I keep you amused but I feel I'm being used
Oh maggie I couldnt have tried any more
You lured me away from home just to save you from being alone
You stole my heart and that's what really hurt

17. The Vandals - My Girlfriend's Dead

The worst part of any break-up is telling everyone about it. Having to explain why it happened. The Vandals had a novel solution: pretend she's dead.

I once had a girlfriend,
But then one day she dumped me and everywhere
I'd go people would ask me where she was.

I don't want to talk about her.
Someone always asks about her.
So I tell them all my girlfriend's dead.

18. The Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (With Some You Shouldn't've)?

Apparently heartache has been around for a long time. Even with the early punks in the 70s. 

I can't see much of a future
Unless we find out what's to blame
What a shame
And we won't be together much longer
Unless we realize that we are the same

Ever fallen in love with someone?
In love with someone
You shouldn't've fallen in love with

19. Arrows - Pour Me Into a Taxi

My friends have been getting depressed and emo to Arrows for years. I never understood why. I guess I first heard them when I was happy, through a friend that worked with the guitarist. But now even the tones of the guitar just make me weepy. The lyrics don't share the heartache when being read. Put it together as a narrative with the music and it just encompasses the whole feeling of the end of love.

There’s a photo by your bed of the two of us in Europe and it scares me to think of how many different men would’ve cast their eyes upon it on a Sunday morning. " When we sat on the curb outside my Sister’s house, did you really think I loved you?" "Are you that optimistic, or are you just that fucking naive?” you asked me.

 

The last 10 days: a recap

Well it's been a crazy few days. So many good bands, so much has happened. Let's have a little review:

Friday - 24 February
Marilyn Manson, Coal Chamber, Wednesday 13, Motionless in White - Eatons Hill Hotel

At about 4pm on the Friday before Soundwave, I got an email. My photography pass had been revoked. In fact, all photography passes had been revoked for Manson for his entire tour. Why? Who knows. So, no Manson for me.

On one hand I was happy for this, it had been two almost 12 hour days at work in a row, Eaton's Hill is a long drive away, Soundwave was the next day and I had an opportunity to sleep for a bit. But come on, missing Manson and Coal Chamber? Disappointed. Plus, not to mention, it appears Manson allowed photographers again after Sydney. So I feel we got the short end of the stick. Can anyone provide me an explanation please?

Saturday - 25 February
Soundwave Festival - RNA Showgrounds

This was my first opportunity to photograph the amazing Soundwave festival, even though I've gone to every incarnation in Brisbane and a few other ones interstate. All up I saw 20 bands, 17 of them I photographed. I battled the mud, fatigue, the constant rain and rogue pyrotechnics. You can view my gallery of photos here.

As far as photography goes, I think it was one of my best outings ever. I got so many photos I was happy with. My favourite photo of the day was also one of my favourite sets of the day, one of the few I stayed for nearly the entire set of: Thursday.

I've never been a huge fan of Thursday, they've got a few great songs, but seeing this was their last set of shows ever, I thought I'd get along. Needless to say I feel like I'm extremely late to the party. They've got a new fan in me, even though as of yesterday it's now too late.

Other highlights include:

- Saves the Day doing a Weezer and set of classic songs. I knew nearly every line of every song.

- Mastodon. I wasn't happy to leave to photograph Thursday at the time, but kind of glad I did now.

- Dillinger Escape Plan. I was dancing around like an idiot in the camera pit singing along for most of the time.

- Devin Townsend Project. I wasn't going to go see him for some stupid reason, but Tim talked me into it. I was the only photographer there and he is such an excellent performer!

- Slipknot, despite the first pyrotechnic unexpectedly going off about a metre from my face.

Monday  - 27 February

Death Cab for Cutie - The Tivoli

I got Penny a Death Cab ticket for Christmas, so I was there in a non-photography role. It was the first time seeing Death Cab for me and I swooned. Hard. Death Cab are one of those bands that I know are good, but I only know a couple of songs off the top of my head. Yet throughout the show I found myself singing along with most of the songs and having a good time, even ignoring my usual hate of the see of iPhones in front of my face recording everything that goes on.

The big surprise to me was their sound though. On album, Death Cab almost seem poppy. On Monday night though they became this loud post-rock machine, blasting me away with long slow-building-to-an-epic-climax intros. I guess this is because they played a lot of songs from Plans, which is my favourite Death Cab album, but has a very post-rock feel to it.

Tuesday - 28 February

Dillinger Escape Plan, System of a Down - Sydney Entertainment Centre

When Dillinger were announced on Soundwave I made a promise to myself, to go see at least one of their sideshows. It just so happened to eventuate they were playing with System of a Down and I managed to get a photo pass to it.

First off, apart from festivals, the Sydney Entertainment Centre was the biggest venue I have ever shot at. It was an experience for me, being able to take advantage of amazing lighting and setup that is not what I'm used to with my plethora of small punk and hardcore shows.

Saying that though, Dillinger went the opposite way. All strobe lights and fog machines. It was really tough trying to get a picture, especially with the frenetic energy of their perfomance. The crowd wasn't really into it (obviously waiting for System) and the frustrations of yet another set full of broken equipment while playing to a fairly unenthusiastic crowd showed through. But heck, they still put on a grand show.

But really, everyone was there for System of a Down.

They apparently recorded the day for a live album (or DVD? I wasn't sure). There were issues with the photographers being forced to leave the venue after their 3 songs, but I managed to stash my camera gear and get back in after only a song or two to see an absolutely amazing set. They covered all of their albums fairly equally, which given my love affair with self-titled, and most bands inability to recognize their old material, made me weak at the knees. Throw in a cover of Dire Strait's Sultans of Swing (but sung as "we are System of a Down") and getting Ben Weinmen of Dillinger Escape Plan out to play guitar on Aerials, all together it was an epic set.

You can view my gallery of photos here.

Wednesday - 29 February

Your Demise, Letlive, Enter Shikari - The Metro

A bonus of being in Sydney was that I got to catch Letlive play a full set. After an excellent day spent being a camera nerd with Pacey I ended up waiting for what seems like an eternity in line to get into the Metro. The line almost went back to my hotel room. It seems that Sydney people like to get to a gig on time? When I finally got in (after discovering my name on the door list was Allman) I managed to get photos of Your Demise for only one song. Knowing nothing about them, I actually asked a fellow photographer if they were a local band.

There were a lot of younger kids really getting into Your Demise, which lead me to discover an interesting fact about the Metro as a venue. It's a 2 strikes and your gone rule. If you crowd surf, you get a warning. If you do it again, you're ejected. A lot of kids were gone before the evening had even started!

But the reason I was there was for Letlive. And it was all of the insanity I was hoping it would be. It started with the guitarist playing with a coat hanger before de-evolving into a frenetic all out assault on our ears and the band's bodies. The lead singer's pure disregard for his own safety rivals that of Dillinger Escape Plan and made for one of the most enjoyable sets I've ever witnessed. It was hard going photographing them as they didn't stand still. Not to mention the microphone cord kept getting whipped out and hitting me in the head or wrapping around my neck.

Unfortunately the crowd didn't get into it as much, but I did. It was an incredible set. Letlive have rapidly shot up my list of favourite bands. Things I remember of the set include the singer playing a guitar case as a fake guitar, then using it as a surf board, climbing on the speaker stacks, the guitarist moving around the monitor speakers and using them to play the guitar before jumping off it, the singer using the microphone stand for all manner of thing and then simulating sex with it... and above all, playing their great songs.

Next was Enter Shikari. Last time I saw them I ended up with a concussion from a stupid fight dancer and don't remember much, except I enjoyed the music. It makes me wonder what I saw last time. As their set now has been deconstructed into a lot of electronic noise and standing around not playing instruments. The lighting conditions were horrible, with fog machines and strobe lights for most of it. After they played Sorry You're Not A Winner, and I got to do the hand clap thing, the songs all became the same bad electronic beat. So I left. Bit of a disppointment, but I could see it coming, given how their albums have pretty much lost most of the hardcore vibe now.

You can view my full gallery of photos here.

Thursday - 1 March

Quiet Steps, Army of Champions, The Smith St Band, Bomb the Music Industry - Between the Walls

Quiet Steps played as a two piece and sounded really good as it, Army of Champions as always did an amazing folk-punk-esque performance and then there were the two bands I was really excited for.

The Smith St Band have put out one of my favourite albums of the year and it seems a lot of people agree with me. As they played the venue (albeit with a fairly average crowd) were all hands in the air singing along. Unfortunately there was one drunk idiot that attempted to do a backflip off a monitor, before falling on to the concrete floor and knocking himself out. Once an ambulance had picked him up to get looked at, the show continued in a more sombre mode. With less backflips.

But they nailed an excellent set. I definitely spent more time singing along than taking photos.

I love Between the Walls as a DIY venue. The size is good (albeit it gets hot), the people are great, the sound quality is superb and it's in a great location for me to get to and park, or even public transport and drink. However, taking photos there drives me nuts. It's too dark for photos with no flash, even more so for this show. They've reduced lighting to one light on each side of stage with a coloured umbrella over it. And if I resort to flash, the roof is reflective metal, the walls are bright white and I get strange lighting bounces and shadows everywhere. I could point my flash in the artists' faces, but I always try my best to not annoy them. It's just plain rude. I struggle to take photos there and am never happy how they turn out. But I still have fun.

After the medical interruption and the end of Smith St band, there's still enough time for the headliner before the curfew. And the headliner was someone I've been waiting to see in ages, never imagining that they could afford to head out to Australia.

Bomb the Music Industry ends up just being the lead man Jeff, playing his guitar and singing with his iPod as his backing band. It's as DIY as you can get, which is how the band lives and breathes.

But holy hell it was a fun set. He played most of the songs I wanted to hear, and spent most of the time in the audience singing along with everyone else. At one point he even got someone up to play the spoons along to Sweet Home Cannada. I was very impressed at his dedication to the performance, even if it was just him and his iPod.

Friday - 2 March

Bonnie Prince Billy, Gallery of Modern Art

It had been a while since I did a musical GoMA up late performance. I tried to enjoy the Matisse artworks before hand, but the exhibition seemed to be just a collection of his old sketch books, with hardly any of his big works. More of a glimpse inside the mind of the artist.

But that's not why I was there, I was there for the music. And it seems despite the crowds, I was one of the only few there to hear him play. The crowd was over capacity, it was impossible to squeeze around the bar to get near the stage. But in a flashback to the crowds at Girls 2 years ago, none of them were there to see the band. Rather to talk. And when you've got the level changes that can occur in Bonnie Prince Billy's music, from the whimsical yet emotional quiet to the almost operatic loudness, it can kind of ruin it.

But if you take out the crowd, what followed was 1.5 hours of sublime music. His mixture of gospel, country and American roots (I personally call his style post-country) was backed by an excellent guitarist, an amazing Southern female vocalist and a great drummer. Each song was steeped in emotion. Even though I know none of his songs, it will go down as one of the best sets I've witnessed. It reminded me of when I first saw Mark Lanegan, the songs themselves as well as the ability and delivery of the singer create an experienec you can't forget.

Tuesday - 6 March

Manchester Orchestra, HiFi

Much like Death Cab a week prior, Manchester Orchestra were one of those bands whose songs I know of and I know I like. In the same vein they also had a set much louder, faster and more steeped in post-rock than what their recorded material appears to be. A thoroughly enjoyable set though, with a crazy keyboardist acting like he'd been kicked out of a band like Letlive and a singer that was eerily similar in look to the Mastodon singer but with a sound like the singer of My Morning Jacket.

Obviously at this point I was tired and exhausted from so many great live sets squeezed into a 10 day period (plus a few other non-music events I attended), but Manchester Orchestra were amazing. An excellent way to end the week.

Bomb the Music Industry

I've harped on and on about this band before and not just because of this awesome fan-made music video:

Or because every release they've ever done is available for free download on their website.

Or because they follow the Fugazi DIY method, cheap all-ages shows.

That all adds up, but I love them because of their goddamn fun punk and ska. Just listening to them makes you think a show would be ridiculous amounts of fun.

But that DIY methodology meant that there was probably no chance of them coming over. And then today I heard some news that made me go straight out and change my underpants twice over, because I was just that goddamn excited. Heck, as I type this now I'm smiling like a fool. 

Yes, they are coming down under. And playing with the Smith St Band. In what basically amounts to a small room. Between the Walls. On the 1st of March. I'm so goddamn excited about this. I've got goosebumps right now. I went to buy tickets the second this got announced, but they're not out yet. But never fear, I've been checking every 30 minutes or so.

I can't wait. I'll be there, probably camera in hand and still skanking like an idiot.

One sentence album reviews (#18)

It's really built up lately, what with a 2 week blog absence and the push to review as many albums before the end of the year. But here we go:

Smith Westerns - Dye It Blonde (2011): Maybe it's the name, but I get a very country feel to this lo-fi rock 4.1/5

Social Jet Lag - The Monster Inside (2011): Generic modern post-hardcore, but with a female that can actually sing. She should do pop instead 2/5

Starfucker - Reptilians (2011): Hipster indie-dance. At times I think Flaming Lips, Of Montreal or Avalanches. The whole time I think "YES!" 5/5

Tennis - Cape Dory (2011): an album seemingly transported from the pop music of a hot 1960s summer 3.9/5

Whirl - Distressor (2010): The Jesus and Mary Chain, if they wrote good music after the 90s. 4/5

White Lies - Ritual (2011): Editors get drunk at New Order concert, hooks up with Interpol; 9 months later their baby sounds like this 3.8/5

Autre Ne Veut - ST (2010): It's a modern Prince album basically, with the same level of annoyance 2.3/5

Tim Blood & The Gutpanthers - Summer Of Our Discontent (2011): lofi pop punk, with a sound that makes me think of a non-folk Defiance Ohio 3.4/5

The Cab - Symphony Soldier (2011): If I was a teenage girl that likes soft contemporary rock, this would make me swoon. Too bad I'm male. 2/5

Nekromantix  - What Happens In Hell, Stays In Hell (2011): Songs about ghosts and devils... Never would have guessed that in psychobilly 2.5/5

Kimbra - Vows (2011): A beautiful funky and jazzy album of soul from a talented kiwi female singer 4.2/5

Bomb the Music Industry! - Vacation (2011): The album starts nothing like a BTMI! album, but luckily the quirky ska comes back at the end 3.3/5

311 - Universal Pulse (2011): A 311 album in 2011 just sounds dated and so forced. Nothing even remotely funky about their current sound 2/5

Regurgitator - Superhappyfuntimesfriends (2011): As disjointed and random as any 'gurge album, but doesn't have a noticeable hit song on it 3.4/5

Staind - ST (2011): Less nu-metal than they used to be, but the song Wannabe makes me laugh so hard I can't take this album seriously 1.6/5

Frenzal Rhomb - Smoko At The Pet Food Factory (2011): Tyical Frenzal: fast songs with very non-PC yet hilarious subject matter 3.8/5

Puddle of Mudd - Re(Disc)overed (2011): This cover album takes everything I love about the original songs and destroys them forever 0.3/5

The Drums - Portamento (2011) & Dum Dum Girls - Only In Dreams (2011): surf rock albums almost identical, minus the female singer of Dum Dum Girls 3.3/5
(I had those 2 albums queued up back to back and I didn't notice when the album changed. They are so similar, except Dum Dum Girls is louder)

La Dispute - Wildlife (2011): an emotional trip with some of the best lyrics I have heard recently, each song is a story 4.7/5
(it took me ages to listen to the album, as seemingly each song is about dealing with death. Hits close to home. But unlike their last album, I don't think I heard the word "darling" once. In Wildlife the repeated word seems to be "cancer")

Mates of State - Mountaintops (2011): I listened to this 10 times without forming an opinion; which means it is still perfect lofi pop 3.8/5

Bury Your Dead - Mosh N' Roll (2011): In my world, this album is how I imagine all good straight edge hardcore to sound. 3.8/5

Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows - ST (2011): At times he gets close, but Craig Owens' new band just can't sound as good as Chiodos 2.3/5

Thrice - Major/Minor (2011): The post-hardcore sound is almost fully gone, but it has been replaced with some amazing rock song writing 4.6/5

Trivium - In Waves (2011): Enough heavier thrash for old fans & melodic metal for newer fans. Summary of their career really... 3.2/5

The Rapture - In The Grace Of Your Love (2011): They've lost the dance-punk edge and this album just sounds like modern elevator music 2/5

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You (2011): A watered-down version of their past (needs Frusciante!) that would be suited for AM radio 2.4/5

I Break Horses - Hearts (2011): This Swedish male/female synth-pop duo stands out from the pack because of their My Bloody Valentine influence 4/5

Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (2011): They've lost a bit of the dreamy hipster sound and now almost sound alt-country. My Weakness! 4.3/5

Primus - Green Naugahyde (2011): The first new album from Primus in 12 years sounds as if it is from the Brown Album years. Funky and quirky 4.3/5

Ladytron - Gravity the Seducer (2011): Very quiet ambient synth music, like every Ladytron album. Just no stand out songs on this one 3.4/5

Eskimo Joe - Ghosts of the Past (2011): A very brooding mainstream-rock album, I can imagine the radio loving it. It just sounds cliche to me 3/5

Owen - Ghost Town (2011): Absolutely beautiful folk/indie/acoustic album, with just subtle touches of his noodly emo past showing 4.5/5

Skyway - Finders Keepers (2011): Imagine New Found Glory circa 2000, but Australian. That is this album. 3.6/5

One sentence album reviews (#7)

As always, you can get these regularly on my Twitter.

Atlas Sound - Logos (2010): Very soft and quiet shoegaze crossed with electronica; very dream like. 2.5/5

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010): Bieber(-1), Raekwon(+2), autotune(-1), Bon Iver(+1), samples King Crimson(+1) and a "I'm gonna let you finish" joke(+1)=3/5

UNKLE - Where Did the Night Fall (2010): One track features Mark Lanegan. #swoon. Apart from that, great relaxed electronica. 4/5

Less Than Jake - TV (2010): ska covers of tv tunes, may confuse many with American TV references. Worth it for the Animaniacs theme alone. 3.5/5

Bomb the Music Industry - Adults!!!... Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited By Nothing!!!!!!! (2010): As always, just fun ska-punk. Bonus point for being free. 4.5/5

Tigers jaw - Two Worlds (2010): everyone is raving about this, but I find the lead singer's voice too whiney. 2.5/5

Underoath - Disambiguation (2010): The loss of the singer/drummer has somehow steered them towards a more awesome and heavier direction. 4/5

Grinderman - 2 (2010): Dark, brooding garage rock which sounds like a culmination of Nick Cave's entire career. 3.5/5

Ben Folds and Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue (2010): The author's lyrical contribution just makes it seem Folds is trying too damn hard 3/5

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Rush to Relax (2010): excellent home grown garage rock; surprising number of long songs. That's not the garage rock way. 4/5

Nas & MF Doom - Nastradoomus Vols. 1 & 2 (2010): The 'best of' Doom's beats with new Nas' raps. Most of the songs aren't as good as the originals. 2.5/5

Free Music Friday 4! (THE BUMPER HOLY-CRAP-THAT'S A LOT OF MUSIC EDITION)

This week's free music Friday comes courtesy of Kasun, he reminded me just how much I used to love this band. Introducing, Bomb the Music Industry!

Apart from having an awesome name they also have awesome song names, such as:

• "I'm Too Cooooool For Music"
• Never Trust a Man Without a Horribly Embarassing Secret
• Showerbeers!
• Side Projects are Never Successful

Their style is a mish-mash of punk, ska and hardcore punk. They will play anything that they feel like and they'll always do it having fun. Hell, their first music video was an acoustic style of mainstream radio alternative rock song.

These guys are also the epitome of independent, DIY punk. They play shows for less than $10. They record and put everything out themselves. They probably even make their own goddamn merch. And the best part is, they've always released their music for free. Every song ever. On their website: http://bombthemusicindustry.tumblr.com/ Just scroll halfway down and every album is on the left.

Their live show is crazy fun. They got voted best live act at The Fest this year. And if you don't know the Fest, well check this out: http://www.thefestfl.com/ So many bands I've been hyping lately. I wish I was in Florida for it.