As I sit here, snowed in, for the second time in a week, I am watching Independence Day on VHS. Since today is a cold day, where I need something to warm me up, I decided to start off with a bit of the sound of the surf to open this one up. The closer: (Pictured on the right) Michael Signorelli’s winning entry for the ReverseRemixThis! Contest in which entrants were asked to prepare lyrics and vocals for a great instrumental track by the VBM band, Map. In between, new track from Cook & UNO, killer hardcore from Twin Killing and Debtor, and a whole lot more. ENJOY!

1. Mainsail’s “Endless Summer” is the opening track off of the recent release from Joel Bennett’s latest musical endeavor. Buy the CD on iTunes here.

2. Debtor’s “Escape” is also a leadoff track. It’s from their EP entitled Deliverance. Spirit Filled Hardcore is back!

3. Twin Killing’s “Hard Times” is one of my favorite tracks from their 2008 release, …If This Could Last Forever. A real hardcore song in a world where mallcore reigns. Love it!

4. Cook & UNO’s “Where Ya Been All My Life?” (Featuring Pigeon John) is off of C&U Music Factory, the newest release from the duo formerly known as “The Eternals”. Throw in my favorite MC and it’s a trio to swoon over. Expect a review of the album within the next week.

5. The Glass Gentlemen’s “Ocean Stars” is another example of this indie band’s talent and ability. Brad and Brad continue to crank out viable, relevant music, even if most of the world has no idea who they are.

6. Jennings’s “Surrender” is a killer track from this future pop starlet. Get on board now… and, check out a review of the Storybook EP.

7. Megaphone’s “My Favorite New Disaster” is an enjoyable track from this radio friendly rock act. Look for a review on the site soon.

8. The Pimps of Joytime’s “Joytime Radio”. What do I need to say about a band called The Pimps of Joytime? How can this not be a song you want to hear?

9. Look Mexico’s “You’re Not Afraid of the Dark Are You?” is a track by this solid Lujo Records act. If you are familiar with Lujo, you know that they produce quality music.

10. TechnoBears’s “Night of the Brainless Date” is another breath of fresh air. TechnoBears has entered several of the TPM remix contests and I’ve always enjoyed his contributions. This is no different. Enjoy.

11. CONTEST WINNER: Map’s “Issues and Subscriptions” (featuring Michael Signorelli of the85bears). Michael did a great job with this. Of course, he had a great backdrop to work with… but he delivered, earning himself Map’s entire discography as his prize. Congrats, Mike Email me with an address to send your prize to).

Like Mike’s take on this Map track? Check out more by his band, the85bears.

But, wait there’s more…

12. BONUS TRACK (Runner up): Map’s “Issues and Subscriptions” (featuring David Paskey).

13. BONUS TRACK (Runner up): Map’s “Issues and Subscriptions” (featuring Kiko Correa).

14. BONUS TRACK (Runner up): Map’s “Issues and Subscriptions” (featuring Daniel Stirling).

(You three should also Email me for your prizes).

Today, I present to you two great CDs that you should own. Both incorporate elements of their influences, while their sound is their own. Both draw on faith for inspiration. Both write powerful songs that draw you towards them with a gravitational force. Both are CDs by acts that you’ve likely heard very little about before. And, both are CDs that will remain on my iPod (or iPad/iPon/iWhatever) for years to come.

However similarly I have described these two CDs, their sound is far from similar.

The first is the debut release from a surf-rock-shoegaze-dreampop band from Ventura, CA. This release first crossed my path through an email sent by Jeff Cloud of Velvet Blue Music. When I responded to his email about wanting to check this out, he noted that the band wasn’t on VBM, but is being distributed by VBM’s distro. He said he’d tell Joel, the man behind this music, to send me a copy for review. A few days later, I received a package, complete with CD, sex wax, and sand from the band’s favorite surf spot.

thepaintedman rates this:

When I popped Mainsail into my car stereo, I was immediately struck by the pop sensibilities of Joel Bennett and his band of merry musicians. I thought to myself, “Wow, this is what bands like Phantom Planet are supposed to sound like,” and I was transported in my mind to the Overseas Highway, where I drove through the Florida keys several years back… the ocean on either side of the road, the smell of the shore, and the warm sun. Ok, so Florida and California aren’t the same, but I’ve never been to Cali, so don’t jump down my throat just yet.

There isn’t a whole lot to say about this CD; the songs blend one into the next with ease. The sum of the parts is what is most important here. The parts are good, but none stand out as the best. Is there a song that could be a good single on here? Sure, pick one at random and put it on pop radio and I don’t doubt that people will love it. If I had to choose a single, I’d start right at the beginning… the opening track, “Endless Summer”. Think Jack’s Mannequin, but more mature and less interested in focusing on making music that sells. It’s just a good, upbeat Summertime type of song.

Here’s all you really need to know. This is dreamy, 90’s shoegaze influenced, surf pop. And I like it. A lot.

The second CD… drastically different. East coast. Very little in the way of pop sensibilities. Even less in the way of dreamy surf influence. What we have here is hardcore. Hardcore, Debtor be thy name.

thepaintedman rates this:

I was introduced to Debtor when I bumped into a friend, Debtor’s bassist Skot Rudy, who told me he was in a new band. While we stood amidst a crowd of folks wandering out the door after a killer Social Distortion show, Skot proceeded to explain to me that he had been asked to join a band called Debtor, a hardcore band based in the Philly burbs. I told him that I’d make a point to come out to a show. And come out to a show, I did.

At the show, I mentioned to Skot that I would love to review a CD, because not only do I like to promote friends but also because I thought their set was tight. Skot offered a free copy of their EP, but I decided to pony up the $5 and support the band with the little money I had on me that night.

The next morning, I popped the CD in the stereo in my living room. I walked out of the room for a minute, only to return to my 14 month old son dancing like a madman to the 2nd track of the CD. Plain and simple, it was awesome.

As opposed to Mainsail, I think Debtor’s Deliverance EP is more about the parts than the sum. Each track is its own piece. The CD flows well together, but nothing about it seems to push me to think that the sum is greater than its parts. Keeping with this theme, there are certain standout tracks on this EP. My favorites being the opener, “Escape”, the spoken word “None Righteous”, and “Witness”.

Overall, quite glad Skot joined the band and that I was lucky enough to experience them recently. I expect big things moving forward from this release. In short, the CD is powerful stuff, harkening back to the hey day of Spirit-Filled Hardcore. Then again, I’d expect nothing less of Blood & Ink Records.