Hockey Night

Its been awhile since ive posted about a local band, its been awhile since ive posted period, but whatever. Hockey Night is about as good as it gets when it comes down to twin cities rock music. Besides originally being from Red Wing, these guys hold a speical place in my heart. Usually I hate super late shows, but if Hockey Night is the last band on at the Triple Rock on a wednesday night, it doesnt matter how lame the other acts are, I am there. The howling 70's guitars, slurred vocals and dual drummers (im telling you, you aint the shit unless you have more than one cat rockin the skins these days) is really something special. If they keep plugging along, it shouldnt be long before some national attention comes their way.

MP3: Hockey Night-Saturday Night Gallop

Hockey Night Myspace


Also, remember this? The bigs are catching on.

Maps and Atlases

Ever listen to something that makes you feel exhausted? Maps and Atlases make music that wages all out guerilla warefare on your ear drums and leaves your mind struggling to keep up. They hail from Chicago, IL and played one of my favorite sets from SXSW this year. Aside from having the best drummer I saw in Austin, the band's technical math rock strictly requires that everybody in the band be advanced musicians. Their latest EP "Trees, Swallows, Houses" is chocked full of perplexing rhythms and melodies that hook you with their complexity and catchiness. Each song is a journey through a multitude of time signatures and changes in how the song feels. It is really something different.

MP3: Maps and Atlases-Every Place is A House

Maps and Atlases Myspace

Justin King

Tonight we have a little Justin King for you all. Sure he is a little generic, a little snow-patroly (yep thats a word), but his latest EP, which is a sampling of his full length which will drop this summer, has been stuck in my computer lately. King's vocals change from hushed and trembling to soaring and wide-eyed on a dime. His songs are multi-faceted. On "Reach You", the piano ballad of the EP, Justin's sincere vocals shine while playing a pulsing, honest piano part. The real treat is at the end when the blippy, clacking drum sample comes in.

MP3: Justin King-Reach You

Justin King Myspace

Listen to the whole EP at his website.

Thanks for being patient while I was away working on an album, I hope you enjoy my brother's post and maybe you will hear more from him in the future.

Artichoke

Neil is taking a week off the blog to go and record one of those "albums" all you kids are so crazy about. So to prove that good taste in music is genetic (and to get somebody to actually update the site), I will be looking after you until next weekend.

I've always been intrigued by concept albums. Most of the time, they're an embarrassing mess that don't do anything to hold my interest. However, when done right, a good concept album can be a thing of beauty. I found Artichoke in the WNUR stacks earlier this year with their album "26 Scientists Volume One: Anning - Malthus." Each of the album's 13 tracks is dedicated to a different scientist for each letter of the alphabet. Whether or not the second volume will ever be recorded remains to be seen because the band just released a folk cover album of the Sex Pistol's "Never Mind the Bollocks Here’s the Sex Pistols." So if you want to listen to a pretty folk rendition of "Anarchy in the UK," rock out to a track about Galileo or simply hear a good concept album, check these Los Angeles natives out.

Stream songs at the Artichoke website

Artichoke Myspace

:o:

This week:

Yo everybody, I am in Cary, IL this week tracking an album with my band bookreader. So my brother is going to be taking over, no mp3's unless he can find them, but he will hook you up with some good stuff.

Ill be blogging here keeping you up to date on how recording is going.

Be nice to Scott.