Brian Setzer Orchestra - Vavoom

If you don't like Brian Setzer you're not a fan of life.

Big bad Voodoo Daddy - self titled

Time for a change of pace with some nu-swing. This album came out in 1999, but it's part of a movement that specialises in sounding like it didn't.

Engerica - The Smell (single)

This single stands out because it features the track A Cure for Living. Also the single version of The Smell, without the extended intro. But that's not really important.

Death From Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine

Their only full-length album, You're a Woman, I'm a Machine is a little more refined, but still messy, grungy dance punk.

Engerica - There Are No Happy Endings

Engerica split up in 2006. Their last gig was a Halloween dress-up party. This album delivers an interesting blend of crunchy British punk and childish lyrics. Don't be put off, it'll grow on you.

at.the.drive-in - Vaya EP

This EP from 1999 features 7 songs by at.the.drive-in, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and Cedric Bixler-Zavala band before De Facto and The Mars Volta. Don't do drugs.

Refused - Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent

Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent is the second-last full album Refused released. It's far more refined than their demos and This Just Might be the Truth, but nowhere near as amazing as The Shape of Punk to Come. You're not ready for that one yet...

Crackout - Oh No!

The second album from British band Crackout. They split up soon after. It's an interesting mix of rock with jazz influences and a vocalist you either love or hate.

Vex Red - Start With a Strong and Persistent Desire

Vex Red split in 2002 to form some three different bands like Septembre, Scenes, or hooking up with Malpractice, Killing Joke or the likes of Mark Chapman from A. Although they let slip plans for a reunion, they also said it was probably not going to happen. This record is probably the only thing they have and will ever release.

Firebrand Boy - Songs for Cake

I didn't realise until the last track that these guys were Scottish, and it got me all excited. They're the first Scottish 8-bit I've heard, and maybe even the first British release I've downloaded from 8bitpeoples. The Scottish accent can be very nice when it sings, as can be heard in a lot of songs by Biffy Clyro or Sucioperro.



You can get the album here, or check out their MySpace. They're also currently touring with Anamanaguchi, my favourite chiptune band.

Yourcodenameis:Milo - All Roads to Fault

This album wasn't the first I heard of YCNI:M, but it has a few songs on it that became favourites with fans. It's a spectacle I can almost guarantee you will never see, but when they played All Roads to Fault live they would slow it down so far that they stopped, and the crowd thought it was over. A brilliant short album from a brilliant dead band.

Death From Above 1979 - Heads Up EP

These guys split back in 2006 over, by the sounds of it, serious arguments. While they were live and kicking, they carved a niche for themselves as lively, grungy dance punk. This EP is noticeably more raw than their later album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine.

Rival Schools United by onelinedrawing

Just today I spotted a copy of this split EP from New York post-hardcore group Rival Schools, and onelinedrawing- solo project of Jonah Matranga. Despite the band not being active for nearly five years, they will be playing various festivals in 2008. New songs are appearing, so it looks like they might be back with another album sometime soon.

Rebus - The Red EP

Another band from Small Town America. From their online presences it's very hard to tell whether they're still active. Aside from compilations, this is one of two single releases.

Har Mar Superstar - D.U.I.

A couple of songs from the American indie/R'n'B singer Sean Tillman. I picked it up in my favourite shop in London for 50p, some time after I had seen the artist supporting Placebo.

People in Planes - As Far as the Eye Can See

Credit for this link goes to No Hits.

Roosterz - Best Songs Collection

The Roosters/z (1979-1988)
So these guys are incredibly hard to get a hold of, at least if you live on the Western half of the planet. A couple of my friends, who should love me for this, have been wanting some for a while. Japanese ska/rock/swing, this stuff is pretty darn good. The only songs that sometimes stick out as being terrible are the let's-sing-in-English tracks, as can be the case with foreign bands. On the whole though, they sing in Japanese, and it's always interesting to be able to appreciate vocals as an instrument, and the whole ensemble musically, without worrying about words.

The best-of comes in two discs, and I found some other stuff but you can't have it just yet.

Troubled Hubble (1999-2005)

My intelligent friend pointed these guys out to me a few years ago with an assortment of MP3s he'd come across. I eventually picked up a few CDs, but the ones I started with have always been my favourites.

Dulcinea Duct Tape - Troubled Hubble
Yes Have Some, Yes Have Some EP (2003)

Ear Nose Throat - Troubled Hubble
Making Beds in a Burning House (2005)

Airplanes - Troubled Hubble
Penturbia (2002)

Where Racoons Don't Live - Troubled Hubble
A Happy Day Went Off The Cliff EP (2004)

The band are defunct now, but you can still get most of their CDs easily. Check out their website for them, and links to what the members are involved in nowadays.

Out of the Fire Comes...

So I've been looking over my old albums and I've picked out two long-dead bands who haven't just vanished.

Million Dead (2001-2005)
With a name plucked from the lyrics of a Refused track, Million Dead's sound resembled more that of Fugazi. Heavy, grungy, angry and British, their second album Harmony No Harmony is the better of the two, in my opinion. Frank Turner's lyrics and singing, often sticking out like a sore thumb, beat down harshly on lifestyles and politics in the UK. It seems so obvious now that he would break off to become a solo artist.

Bread and Circuses - Million Dead
Harmony No Harmony (2005)

Plan B - Million Dead
Harmony No Harmony (2005)

To Whom It May Concern - Million Dead
Harmony No Harmony (2005)

So after this they disbanded, Frank Turner hastily hit the road with his acoustic guitar and his opinions. To date he has three albums, the latest having just happened. You can check him out on his official website.

Heartless Bastard Motherfucker - Frank Turner
Demo (2005)




Llama Farmers (1996-2000)

Formed in 1996 in Greenwich, Llama Farmers were soon supporting the Foo Fighters and Greenday. They got signed to Fierce Panda Records, then Beggars Banquet. Aside from vinyls and EPs, they released two full albums before their disappearence in 2000.

Get The Keys and Go - Llama Farmers
Dead Letter Chorus (1999)

Yellow - Llama Farmers
Dead Letter Chorus (1999)

But they didn't just disappear! After a stint as 'Letters', all four members are now back and active as Bear Hug. "Bear Hug is a band with four people in it, three boys & one girl to be precise. They like to make pop songs with harmonies and wiggly bits."

Nice Strong Arm - Reality Bath

I tripped over a couple of tracks from this album on Vinyl Mine and liked it a lot, so I tracked down my own copy.

A punk/indie band from Dallas, I really only know what I can find on the internet, and in my infinitely small grasp of this era in music I can't really compare them in context. Out of context then? They're a lot like Refused in places, a later hardcore punk band I happen to love. I would also compare some songs to guitar-heavy indie like Interpol, maybe Joy Division in places (not for the better). Reality Bath was the band's debut, released on Homestead Records circa 1987. What I have found with Nice Strong Arm is a record of honest late-80s indie rock, and purchase on that steep ledge of music-that-happened-before-I-was-born.

Free Release: Sinfonia for the Blunt Sword

kARHu

Apart from being a brand of Finnish beer, kARHu is an experimental progressive electronic outfit. I know there's a hell of a lot out there since the internet caught on, but this one is a keeper. Mellow ambience meets glitchy hip-hop, it feels like those interlude tracks you always secretly loved more than the rest of the album. They've just released a nineteen-track album under a Creative Commons license, which is good news for everyone because it means you can listen to it right now.

Newtopia - kARHu
Sinfonia for a Blunt Sword (2008)

You can get the whole album on the official site here.