No beating around the bush today, the winner of the RemixThis! SOLID GOLD contest is Austria’s Markus Schuechner, aka N-Jin. His remix won because it was thoroughly enjoyable and executed best. Not only will his track lead off this mixtape, but CookBook will be including this remix on one of his upcoming releases and sending him a T-shirt. Additionally, another N-Jin remix will close this 10 track mixtape (with a bonus download at the end of the post), so enjoy Markus’s genius.
Make sure to check the bottom of this post for some additional notes about the other entrants to this contest… there are consolation prizes.
…as noted last night, the most original and creative remix was the remix done by Cassowaries. Very weird, very entertaining. CookBook said it may have been the winner if it weren’t for the fact that Cook couldn’t hear his own vocals and, just like TO, Cook like him some him. For being Mr. Original, you’ll be entitled to the first pick of the CD grab bag courtesy of your friendly neighborhood TPM.
…I really enjoyed BenKenoB’s Remix, but it wasn’t CookBook’s favorite. Another pretty original take on the song that warrants a free CD as a prize!
…Cook had great things to say about other remixes by The Nemesis, Frozenmammoth, and MC Dub. The Nemesis was “kinda weird, but in a good way”. Frozenmammoth’s second remix was “funky”. And, MC Dub had a “completely original take on the song” that Cook also noted as “moody”. All three of you will also receive free CD’s are a consolation, nothing special, but free is always fun.
Thanks to all and stay tuned for upcoming RemixThis! contests featuring Shael Riley and the85bears.
I am working on a review of the85bears‘ album entitled 10 Years Look Good on You for Decapolis, but I though it would be cool to share my complete unedited notes with my readers here, as well. In short, this is an album of good music that is poorly recorded, but I’m okay with that, completely. Fix up the recording and trim a few songs to make it an EP, and it’s a solid 8, but as is, we’ll call it a 6.5.
Here are my unedited notes, the only changes from my original scratch are the links I added. Enjoy.
“Quaint and Country” – I’ve read tons of praise by many for this song on my first mixtape. It’s enjoyable and reminds me of an acoustic musician I liked a lot in my teen years called Feeling Left Out.
“Shadows” – Harder edge, the vocals remind me of a song now defunct punk influenced rock band Giving Way (Jon is now lead vocalist in Holler Wild Rose!, Lou is in the band with him, not sure where Jimmy is now, but he played with Anberlin for a bit and was in Evelyn Hope, too). The overall feel of the song is very reminiscent of Full Surrender, in the acoustic guitars and hand drums juxtaposing with a hardcore type edge.
“Meshac” – A beautiful, worshipful song. The female backing vocals enhance this track more than in previous track (though they never took away, this track specifically benefits from them). The hand drums continue to bring forth comparisons of NJ’s Full Surrender.
“Speak Now” – Similar tone and feel to what has been established on the album thus far, the chorus picks up the tempo from the verses, like the handclaps in the chorus a lot. Adds a fun feel to the track.
“What You Hate” – More bands keep coming to mind as I move forth through the album, this track brings all that was good about early emo to mind, as well as a great rock band that was on Tooth & Nail a few years back called Fighting Jacks… though the acoustic instruments are a stark contrast to Fighting Jacks’ powerful electric sound. The female backing vocals are perfect here, sounds like a cello in there somewhere too.
“Needles” – Good, downbeat track, another worshipful tune at first, picks up after first verse a bit with some classical guitar that screams “Esteban!” The recording on this track detracts from the song a great deal.
“Abraham” – Not a big fan of this track, slowest track up until this point. Honestly, just don’t really like it.
“Mercy Unending” – Another track that suffers from a poor recording. Have a hard time getting past the lack of production on this, but underneath it, sounds like a good song, again presenting a worshipful tone like “Meshac” or “Needles”.
“The Vine” – Love this track. Again I am reminded of what was good about early emo music. Powerful lyrics, emotive vocals, good song structure. This is the kinda of song that could make me cry if heard at the appropriate time, like I did whenever I saw the Operation (Damn mewithoutYou for blowing up and burning out their first and better band), even though I tried not to.
“Friends with Benefits” – Piano is a good way to win me over in most case, this is no exception, good song about love, lust, and life.
“Feather White” – Completely different from the rest of this album. This is basically a spoken word track, a poem spoken on top of music. Different, but interesting. Dig it.
“Never” – I enjoy the guitar work on this track, not much else to say. Short song.
“It’s All His” – Cool instrumental (complete with xylophone), the guitar work seems to build up and up, but never seems to fully deliver. Sounds more like a track that comes in between two others or is the background to a transitional scene in a movie. Not the best way to close the album, but overall a decent track.
Overall: Poor production value, but that’s okay when an album is essentially a collection of self recorded tracks distributed for free. Lacked flow, meaning it sounded as a collection of songs, not an album, per se.
Ok, so I’ve been a slacker… nearly a week after the scheduled date of last Tuesday, I still haven’t had my final sitdown with Shael of the Rileys, but I will soon. Promise! Here’s what else is in store for my loyal TPM readers.
-I am sending the remixes to Cook tonight or tomorrow. Both he and I will give each a score of 1 to 10 (1-5 points for uniqueness and 1-5 points for sheer awesomeness), then we’ll choose the win by adding up the two scores and seeing who fares best. Tiebreakers will go to Uno Mas for final decision, even though I haven’t asked him yet. Winner unveiled on Monday, for this month’s mixtape!
-In addition to the winner of this contest, there is still some room on next month’s Monthly Mixtape which drops on Mixtape Monday (first Monday of each month). Holla!
-I have a few upcoming reviews: Weatherbox, Sebastien Grainger, and the85bears (for Decapolis. Perhaps, movie reviews of District 9 and Nerdcore Rising, as well. Read ‘em, love ‘em, live ‘em.
-I found this at Walmart today: PURE AWESOMENESS. Here’s what Mary Ellen Quinn has to say on Amazon.
This may be the most wacky by-product of the busy Jane Austen fan-fiction industry—at least among the spin-offs and pastiches that have made it into print. In what’s described as an “expanded edition” of Pride and Prejudice, 85 percent of the original text has been preserved but fused with “ultraviolent zombie mayhem.” For more than 50 years, we learn, England has been overrun by zombies, prompting people like the Bennets to send their daughters away to China for training in the art of deadly combat, and prompting others, like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to employ armies of ninjas. Added to the familiar plot turns that bring Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy together is the fact that both are highly skilled killers, gleefully slaying zombies on the way to their happy ending. Is nothing sacred? Well, no, and mash-ups using literary classics that are freely available on the Web may become a whole new genre. What’s next? Wuthering Heights and Werewolves?
-Here’s a last minute shot at free music… if you go sign up for Hellogoodbye’s mailing list right now, you will get a free EP in your email tomorrow. I did it, so why don’t you?
-And… last, but certainly not least, there seems to be TONS going on at indie label Saddle Creek.. look back here later this week for some updates, including free tracks from great Saddle Creek bands!
-The RemixThis! Contest is in full swing. In fact, RemixThis! “Solid Gold” featured on Remix Comps and Laptop Rockers. At least 4 entries are in, keep ‘em coming! Really hoping someone takes a shot at a rock version, mostly because I love me some Hip Hop injected with Rock and/or Roll! Do the damn thing… by Friday, that is.
-This week will conclude the Tuesday with Riley series. Hopefully that will be up on time this week, although with my schedule and his, I can’t promise anything. Check on Twitter and here to find out when it’s up.
-I am writing reviews and interviews for Decapolis now, check out reviews of Telegraph Canyon and Derek Webb. I will be rocking a review of TPM’s most downloaded band, the85bears, for Decap later this week.
-Those who are owed a digital prizepack for spreading the word of TPM on Twitter, never fear, I haven’t forgotten. Expect something via email this week!
-Later this week on TPM: Tunc Ak review, Sebastien Grainger review, K-Flay review, some tasting notes on Long Trail Harvest Ale, and some other surprises.
-Last but not least, I leave you all with a video to jam to. The last Song of the Day I picked was “The Pigeon John Song“, today I bring another Hip Hop track, this time by the god-pappy of Nerdcore. It’s MC Frontalot’s “Charity Case” off of 2005’s Nerdcore Rising. Without further ado, here’s “Charity Case” live at 2009’s Nerdapalooza:
This week’s Tuesday with Riley has been preempted by two days of mini-reviews that I am entitling “Shorties” (My phenomenal and enlightening conversations with the dubious and malty Shael Riley will resume next Tuesday for 2 more weeks, so stay tuned).
Shorties consists of short reviews of albums that I had too much to say about to include in a 10 in 10 post. Today I will feature 3 albums that I liked quite a bit. Tomorrow, I will look at 2 albums that I didn’t think much of (and one may be quite a bit of a surprise for those who know me and my musical tastes). Enjoy today’s post and come back tomorrow for some advice about what not to purchase next time you hit the local record store.
thepaintedman rates this:
Evacuate’s debut full-length is another example of what Taang! does well, which is put out solid punk rock albums. Dirty, grimey, cause driven, West Coast hardcore music. he type of punk rock that makes you involuntarily envision yourself sweatily stomping around in a circle pit, stopping only to put your arm around the guy next to you to shout the lyrics together. This is a band that states, “a href=”http://www.punkrockers.com/evacuate”>We are NOT one of those bands that have members that USED TO BE PUNK that now play rock and roll“… a band that sings, “What happened to hardcore… cause it’s not the same as it was before”… and a band that reminds the punk rockers inside many of us why we fell for the music and scene in the first place.
thepaintedman rates this:
Cool is Just a Number, the latest EP by NES Rock band I Fight Dragons, is a solid EP of pop rock inspired by and containing video game style sounds and tunes. In the vein of Shael Riley, this chiptune sextet has quickly made a splash in the video game scene with this self-released freely distributed EP. Despite only being around since 2008, the band has the tightness of a unit that has been together for years. Here’s hoping that this EP is just the beginning for the Chicago pop rock act.
thepaintedman rates this:
While not flooring me, Telegraph Canyon’s VBM debut, The Tide and the Current is a strong and well-crafted pop album. What doesn’t impress is the album’s style, it’s simply not me. What does impress is the knack for songwriting and the incredible musicianship. “Safe on the Outside” is my favorite track at the moment, but that could change. If you are into pop rock with tons of different instruments and layers, ala The Arcade Fire, this is for you. And whether that’s your thing or not, you still need to scoot on over to Decapolis to check out my full review of this album later this week or early next. With more listens, the album seems to be growing on me, so perhaps my praise of the album will, too grow. You can’t miss out, but don’t worry, I’ll remind you.
Come back tomorrow for 2 more albums, albeit ones that I like a good deal less than these.
I know, I know… I just updated. But I finally got a chance to watch this.
Damn, I wish I could have been at this reunion concert. Word is that they raised about $5000. Good stuff… keep the Pierce family in your prayers and keep rockin’!
Fred And The Savages – 6:00pm to 6:45pm
Main Line Riders – 6:45pm to 7:30pm
274 – 7:30pm to 8:15pm
Speedy Delivery – 8:15pm to 9:00pm
Ghoti Hook – 9:00pm to 10:00pm
Huntingtons – 10:00pm to 11:00pm
Why the Huntingtons would headline over the Hook is way beyond me, but this should be a good time. Bonus for the hardcore Christian punkers (as I once was), Speedy Delivery will also be on stage. ROCK!
