Bands You Need to Know 2009 Compilation

Ladies and Gentlemen. Boys and Girls. Rock fans of ALL ages...The moment you've all been awaiting (or not...but should have been) has arrived!

EXPLODING IN SOUND presents...BANDS YOU NEED TO KNOW 2009!! A 100% FREE compilation CD showcasing the best and brightest independent bands in rock music. Please download this album, complete with full artwork, and check out great new music that truly NEEDS to be heard. The bands comprising the album cover a wide range of styles including good ol' rock n' roll, indie, alternative, grunge, prog, shoegaze, alt/folk, and so much more. There is something for everyone, so please check out each of the bands participating on the compilation. I really love all these bands, and I'm certain that you will too! Feel free to pass the download link on to anyone and everyone you think might be interested. As this is a FREE compilation, the goal is for as many people possible to hear it, and get a chance to check out these incredible new bands!! Spread the word and together we can help bring quality rock music back to where it should be. Please support these artists, and enjoy!

***CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ALBUM!!!***



In the download folder, you will also find the incredible CD booklet for the release designed by Brad Chancellor of ChancellorDesign. He can be reached for all your design needs at Brad@ChancellorDesign.com His contribution has made this release look better than I could have ever imagined, with art that compliments the music. The booklet contains full descriptions of all the bands, so you can be sure to get real familiar with your new favorites.

Band Descriptions:

Magnet School – Seventensplit
(from the album “Tonight We Drink…Tomorrow We Battle The Evil at Hand” courtesy of Arclight Records)
www.myspace.com/themagnetschool | www.arclightrecords.com

From the rock capital of America, Austin, TX, Magnet School has perfected their sound of what I like to call “shoegrunge.” Blending the early 90s influences of shoegaze and grunge music, they are sure to use only the best ingredients for their music. Layers upon layers of guitars drift about over jagged/exotic rhythms and soaring memorable hooks. Think phenomenal Texas grunge meets Swervedriver (who are successfully covered on the album), and it’s not difficult to see why Magnet School are destined for greatness.

Abigail Warchild – Trash Can Fire
(from the EP “Abigail Warchild”)
www.myspace.com/abigailwarchild

Abigail Warchild is a raw, energetic indie rock band from Brooklyn by way of Boston. Not one you want to miss out on, they deliver quality song writing with impressive stop-start rhythms and simple, powerful, and soulful vocals. Wild explosive angular guitars rip through the tracks creating a sound that walks a thin line between stylish indie rock and reckless explosions, and the music ends up all-the-better for it.

Fears – My My
(previously unreleased)
www.myspace.com/iamfears

Terry Abbott (ex-Vex Red/Septembre) is easily one of my favorite voices from across the pond (North London to be exact). His work with Vex Red seems like it will forever remain criminally underrated, but alas, he forges on. For the past two years, his new project, Fears, and their electronic fueled ambient sound, has blown me away with every beautiful track released. Abbott’s vocal melodies show beauty and a delicateness that contrasts with dark programmed sonic landscapes that are simultaneously danceable and haunting.

Satellite Tragedy – Your Poison
(previously unreleased)
www.myspace.com/satellitetragedy

While Satellite Tragedy’s Pop-Up Records debut “New Beautiful” was one of my top 5 favorite albums of ’08, they haven’t been showing any signs of slowing down. These two Vancouver natives have continued posting new demos at an excellent pace since their albums release, and manage to impress me with each and every one. From shimmering ambient-pop space drifts to industrial horror grunge, it seems there’s no style they haven’t mastered.

Kid:Nap:Kin – Heroin Grillz
(from the album Hush Now…)
www.myspace.com/kidnapkin

Heavy rock fans, you have great reason to rejoice. Boston’s Kid:Nap:Kin are easily one of the most interesting, exciting, and genuinely talented bands to emerge onto the scene. Blending expertly crafted free jazz experimentation with ever shifting rhythmic times, it’s more than safe to say this three piece band has their “chops” on a higher level. Daniel Ellis’ vocals soar and wander with a beauty matched only by the late great Jeff Buckley, on top of music that brings to mind the legendary aggressive, unpredictable, styling’s of Glassjaw and The Mars Volta’s work.

Gravehaven – The Mirror
(from the album “Calico”)
www.myspace.com/gravehaven

Gravehaven is a five piece band hailing from the gracious Boston musical scene. Their style is hard to pin down, but can be described as a mix between progressive and post-punk rock. Sound intriguing? It is. “The Mirror," soars with its near spaghetti western sounding banjo and violin experimentation meets hypnotic keyboard rhythms. Singer Benjamin Grenville comes crashing in with his exceptional, passionate, vocals that really mold their identity. The electric guitars slide in to the mix to escalate the intensity before wide bursts of sound float over intricate drumming and shifting rhythms and melodies, reminiscent of Boston's very own Cave In (the Jupiter years).

Lamb Handler – New Things To Do To You
(from the album “Jingle Jangle”)
www.myspace.com/lambhandler

Who says rock and roll can’t be fun? Charlotte, North Carolina’s Lamb Handler prove that you can rock and party at the same time. Part sleaze, part intoxication, a heap of Southern charm, and all around catchy, their sound grooves with upbeat energy similar to Eagles of Death Metal or a light hearted Queens of the Stone Age. “Jingle Jangle” delivers the perfect mixture of stoner pop and outlaw country.

Kung-Fu Grip – Down
(From the upcoming album “Two”)
www.myspace.com/kungfugrip

Brooklyn’s finest three part rock powerhouse is here and ready to bring mainstream alternative rock back to where it belongs…grunge. With power chord heavy guitars, hard hitting manic Dave Grohl-esque drumming, and a gift for catchy vocal melodies, Kung-Fu Grip are prime and ready for the next generation of the unapologetic grunge rock revolution.

Here Holy Spain – Grace
(from the upcoming debut album “Manic” courtesy of and © Idol Records)
www.myspace.com/hereholyspain

Here Holy Spain has created a slab of fresh, welcoming, and raw “slacker punk” on their upcoming debut, “Manic.” Simple, catchy no holds barred blasts of energy will have the skate parks to the grunge rockers nodding their heads in appreciation. Strong memorable melodies bounce around the stomping rhythms and charging guitar attacks to create songs listeners will be struggling to get out of their heads.

Exeter – Red Dress
(from the upcoming album “Grey Noise White Lies” courtesy of Pop-Up Records)
www.myspace.com/exetermusic

Austin, TX natives Exeter are carrying the torch for early 90s space rock music well into the new millennium. Having appeared last year on the phenomenal Failure Tribute album, “The Nurse Who Loved Me,” they showed they knew their way around the sound. With their own material they prove not to let those fans down, as they show great promise for the genre. Gorgeous soaring vocals, layered guitar and bass dissonance, and heavy hitting drums blend seamlessly to create one of my most anticipated indie releases of ’09.

True Widow – Duelist
(from the album “True Widow” courtesy of End Sounds)
www.myspace.com/truewidow

The days of incredible shoegaze music have returned, with True Widow leading the way. This Dallas three piece has crafted an album filled with beautiful wandering waves of distortion that both crash and peacefully wash into the music. Sharp, crisp rhythms accompany this dream state like drift to create one of the best shoegaze albums since My Bloody Valentine and Swervedriver. Stunning male/female vocal harmonies only add to the haunting beauty that is True Widow.

Waterbodies – Wooden Teeth
(from the album “Sleep Like Submarines”)
www.myspace.com/waterbodies

Waterbodies is a power trio from the Niagara Region of Canada. They are able to craft beautifully intense music as can be heard on "Wooden Teeth," a song more in tune with the heavy indie feel of … And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead. Sharp, angular guitars pierce and shimmer with a sub-sonic bass groove to accompany the marching drums. Their music is reflective, intricate, and highly artistic.

(Damn) This Desert Air – Halo Around the Moon
(from the album “EP1”)
www.myspace.com/damnthisdesertair

(Damn) This Desert Air is a relatively new band, but its members are no strangers to heavy rock music. Hailing from New Jersey, (D)TDA consists of former members of several well seasoned hard rock bands (see website for details). Their attention has shifted towards the always appreciated space rock sound evident on “Halo Around the Moon.” Containing deep pounding drums, calculated and intelligent guitar playing, liquid bass grooves, and smooth yet commanding vocals allows the outer space bursts to be felt immediately.

Marquis of Vaudeville – Wildflowers
(previously unreleased)
www.myspace.com/marquisofvaudeville

This Dallas five piece knows a thing or two about hypnotic and beautiful melodies. Marquis of Vaudeville craft alternative rock gems that remain accessible while they wander through space and time. Singer/guitarist Toby Lawhon’s voice dazzles and dances with incredible talent that would make Ours’ Jimmy Gnecco proud. With strong memorable songs, this is the music modern rock radio should be getting familiar with.

Audiovox – A Cautionary Tale
(Previously Unreleased)
www.myspace.com/audiovoxmusic

Brad Chancellor (Orion) and Martin Bush (Paper Cities) have brought their talents together to bring the world Audiovox. With lush bubbling programmed electronics, grinding distorted guitars and keys, and tight pounding drums, the music creates a beautiful sonic landscape for the smooth and charming vocals. They have crafted intelligently structured electro-pop rock that fans of The Rentals and The Postal Service should be quick to embrace.

Hazard Adams – Tin Cup
(from the album “Neanderthal Sessions”)
www.myspace.com/hazardadams

Originally a solo or duel guitar act, Boston’s Hazard Adams has grown into a full band, and the sound and songs have in turn grown as well. Their musical style is hard to classify as they effectively mix a blend of folk, blues, country, and alternative rock into a sound that is all their own. Primary song writers Jesse Friedberg and Chris Perry show off a knack for writing catchy songs without falling too far into the typical singer/songwriter territory. Staying organic and true to their roots, whether it’s Wilco styled alt/country or quirky jangle pop, Hazard Adams’ music remains genuine and honest.

Sputnik Monroe – Standing in Rank
(from the album “We’re Doomed”: The Great Depression Celebration)
www.myspace.com/sputnikmonroe

Hailing from Los Angeles, CA, Sputnik Monroe are a five piece experimental rock unit that has been compared to The Mars Volta, Radiohead, and Pink Floyd, and on their most recent EP "We're Doomed" The Great Depression Celebration Part I" it is clear as to why. Their music combines atmospheric, epic, and dynamic shifts that never get predictable. Using haunting synths, funky bass, progressive drumming and sharp charging guitars, they create the perfect backdrop for the strong vocal melodies. Kevin Netzley’s energetic belts are gladly reminiscent of Cedric Bixlar Zavala's voice.

Violent Soho - Love is a Heavy Word
[from the album We Don't Belong Here]
www.myspace.com/violentsoho

These Aussies make no mistakes about their music. This is quality heavy grunge that goes straight for the jugular with no remorse. If we were still lucky enough to be in the musical climate of the early 90's, Violent Soho would be multi-platinum. Loud and heavy guitars drive this grunge pop sound like bricks pummeling to the floor. Imagine The Pixies merging with "Bleach" era Nirvana, and you can begin to imagine the no bullshit sound Violent Soho can be extremely proud of.

The Boom Boom Box – Shivers
(from the album “The Boom Boom Box EP”)
www.myspace.com/thebbbox

The members of this Dallas, TX alternative rock act are no strangers to the scene, culminating from the ashes of local legends Baboon, Pleasant Grove, Ghostcar, Falkon, and Pinkston. Dark, creeping, brooding soundscapes mix with the new wave influenced vocals that seem to flail and swirl similar to The Cure or Echo & The Bunnymen. The Boom Boom Box delivers solid, jagged, psychedelic, pop songs that drift with an ominous quality that begs for repeat listens.