Free Music Friday 11!

I thought I'd give you all some free music before I officially start these holiday shenanigans. And today's free music comes from a band that randomly added me on Twitter. Now normally when someone adds me on Twitter I just presume it's spam and ignore it completely. But this profile had a little spark to their description which initially attracted my attention.

First off, they are from Madison Wisconsin, one of my favourite party locations in the world. Second, they play noise rock. And if you follow this blog at all, you'll know that I have a weakness for the world of noise rock.

They are, the United Sons of Toil.

They've got a new album ready to come out soon, but you can currently get their 2008 album Until Lions Have Their Historians, Tales of the Hunt Shall Always Glorify the Hunter. A mouthful, huh? I recently did the one sentence review treatment of it:

The United Sons of Toil (2008):this is what happens when 90s midwest-emo-loving kids grow up, get angry & discover feedback & distortion 4/5

As I mentioned, the best way to describe their sound is of a band that grew up on 90's emo/math-rock (the likes of Texas is the Reason and Sunny Day Real Estate) but also liked their noise and hardcore (I detect a definite Helmet sound floating in their music). They mixed it all up, let it marinated for a decade or so, and then created this band.

Their album of the ridiculously long name is available on their Bandcamp, for the low cost of "name-your-price". Check it out, and if you like it like I do, throw a few dollars and wait for their next album out in the next few months.

Bandcamp

One sentence album reviews (#10)

Electric Wizard - Black Masses (2010): Imagine Black Sabbath smoking a hell of a lot more pot. 4/5

Eternal Summers - Silver (2010): dreamy, jangly lo-fi. Honestly thought it sounded like it was from 10 years ago. 3/5

Forever The Fallen - Narrations (2010): Why do I keep listening to post-hardcore?! I hate 95% of it. At least this one has no electronica 1/5

Midi & the Modern Dance - Make it Easy on Yourself (2010): quiet jangly guitar indie, with a hint of 90s emo influence 3.5/5

Magic Man - Real Life Color (2010): quiet synth-pop indie. Very cheerful. 4/5

Former Ghosts - New Love (2010): Imagine Joy Division doing moody electronica. This is that. 3.5/5

Grids - Kansas (2010): A brutal noise-rock assault by a band that sounds like they listen to a lot of Cursed. 4/5

Hellogoodbye - Would it Kill You (2010): The last time I listened to these guys they were bad electo-pop-punk; now 60's inspired pop. 3.5/5

Ill Niño - Dead World (2010): Old nu-metal band embraces the regular metal sound; highlight: Smashing Pumpkins metal cover 2.5/5

Jim Bryson & The Weakerthans - The Falcon Lake Incident (2010): My new favourite folk-rock supergroup (sorry Travelling Wilburys) 4/5

John Steel Singers - Tangalooma (2010): Excellent local pop, that channels big band music through their use of horns 4/5

Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager (2010): Can someone tell me why there is not more beautifully crafted hip-hop like this? 4.5/5

Killing the Dream - Lucky Me (2010): Very fast hardcore punk with gravelly vocals, like Comeback Kid where the vocalist has a cigarette habit 3.5/5

The Aquabats - Hi-Five Soup! (2011): It's fun, but after time every song is starting to sound the same and the novelty is becoming thin 3/5

Casey Jones - I Hope We're Not the Last (2011): Excellent hardcore album. But really, listen to it for the intro to the song Butt-Hash. 4/5

The Get Up Kids - There Are Rules (2011): It's much heavier than their classic emo sound and may alienate old diehard fans, but not me 4.5/5

Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will (2011): I wish every post-rock album was like this, not just droning & dreary guitars. 4.5/5

The United Sons of Toil - Until Lions Have Their Historians, Tales Of The Hunt Shall Always Glorify The Hunter (2008): this is what happens when 90s-midwest-emo-loving kids grow up, get angry and discover feedback and distortion. 4/5

Lack - Saturate Every Atom (2008): My review of this indie-punk-hardcore band is moot as the first lyric is "behead all the screamo kids" 4/5