Exploding In Sound presents: IN CASE OF EVACUATION

It is amazing what can be accomplished in the span of two and a half years. Since the inception of Exploding In Sound, our aim has been to bring great new music to an ever growing audience. A simplistic mission statement from one music obsessed fan with a desire to help the artists that deserve to be heard. With that said… ladies and gentlemen, it is an unbelievable honor to present you with Exploding In Sound’s newest release… IN CASE OF EVACUATION. A compilation of epic magnitude, there is so much great new music contained within that we had to make it a double album. The FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD contains two discs worth of music from some of the greatest bands of our time, brought to you exclusively by EIS. IN CASE OF EVACUATION features over 30 bands from around the globe including: We Were Promised Jetpacks, Caspian, Maps & Atlases, Wintersleep, Open Hand, Red Fang, Slang Chickens, Helms Alee, Imaad Wasif, LaFaro, Crippled Black Phoenix, The Twilight Sad, Old Canes, Black Helicopter, and so many more incredible bands. The music contained within your emergency evacuation supply transcends through all subgenres of rock, not concerned with what is cool or trendy, but rather with what is artistic, pure, and well… rocks. IN CASE OF EVACUATION captures the true essence of the site, combining the music of critically acclaimed and well established acts with the up-and-coming bands that are virtually unknown to the masses. Exploding In Sound remains dedicated to both, helping to spread the word of great rock to all with an open ear. We are excited to introduce the future generation of bands to the EIS family including: Grass Is Green, Doomstar!, Hold Your Horse Is, Anakin, Me You Us Them, Geronimo!, The World Concave, Gods Are Ghosts, Red Bellows and so many others!

As always, the compilation is a 100% FREE digital download, containing artwork from the amazing Tiny Little Hammers, band descriptions, links for further enjoyment, and more. I want to reach out and thank everyone who has helped put this collection together, especially the bands, their labels, and management. Without the help, interest, and cooperation of these incredible artists none of this would be possible, because after all this is about their music and artistic vision. I’d also like to thank the loyal Exploding In Sound fans for your continued support and belief! I am very confident you will love this compilation as much as I do. Be prepared, there is a lot to take in, but rest assured that you will be pleased with what you hear. Don’t forget to support the artists and great music will continue to be made.

Sharing of the download link is HIGHLY recommended and encouraged to anyone and everyone you think might be interested. As this is a FREE compilation, the goal is to gain the maximum audience achievable, and word of mouth is always appreciated. Let no volcanic ash stand in your way, IN CASE OF EVACUATION, remain calm and allow Exploding In Sound to be your guide. PLEASE DOWNLOAD, SHARE, POST, and SPREAD the word to everyone you know. Great music is being made, and it’s up to us, the fans, to deliver it to as many willing listeners as possible. ENJOY!


Special thanks go out to all of the bands, Dylan at Tiny Little Hammers for his amazing artwork, Ty Griffin, Craig Cirinelli, Brad Chancellor, Larry Suglio, Charlene at Smalltown America, Laurel Stearns, Justin Greaves, David Adamski at Small Stone Recordings, Andrew Kesin at Ecstatic Peace, Jeff Tafolla at Saddle Creek, Grant McCallum at Barsuk, Monique Blair, Patrick at Alive Records, Tom Lavis at Fat Cat, Janesta Boudreau, my family, friends, and everyone who is supporting the cause.

- Dan Goldin / ExplodingInSound.com



TRACKLISTING AND ARTIST INFORMATION:

DISC 1:

1. Open Hand – Herrons (from the album Honey)

Five years have passed by since Open Hand’s last release, but the band have returned in full force with their third album, Honey, an experimental force of nature that holds no punches. With a line-up almost entirely of new members, band leader Justin Isham remains the life blood for a group not afraid to travel in new directions. New territory is certainly explored as they sift through influences including space rock (once again working with HUM’s Matt Talbott), metal, prog, indie, R&B, and even hip-hop. Their direction curves wildly throughout the album, while never straying too far from the grandeur that is Open Hand.

BUY THE ALBUM.

2. Black Helicopter – Invasion of Prussia (from the album Don’t Fuck With The Apocalypse)

Boston’s Black Helicopter has got to be one of the best kept secrets in music. Signed to Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace Records, the band have very little in the way of an internet presence, but rather allow their music to do the talking. The band’s sophomore album speaks volumes for their cause, as the band triumphantly tear through thick plodding waves of post-punk guitars with large dense rhythms. Tim Shea’s vocals add an undeniably catchy aura to their music, with gorgeous tone and simplistic pop like delivery.

BUY THE ALBUM.

3. We Were Promised Jetpacks – A Far Cry (from the EP The Last Place You’ll Look)

Last year, Scotland’s We Were Promised Jetpacks released their debut album These Four Walls, one of the absolute greatest albums in recent memory. The record should have ranked in EIS’ top three albums of the year, but sadly I didn’t hear it until 2010. My obsession with the quartet has grown since early January, after becoming more or less addicted to their album and catching their live show on multiple occasions. The band’s music can most easily be described as indie rock with a post-rock spirit, while vocalist Adam Thompson’s thick Scottish accent is their secret weapon. Gorgeous vocal melodies sound unbelievably honest as the band tears through steady building crescendos. It has been my goal since hearing WWPJ to spread the word, so in conjunction with their label Fat Cat, I’d like to share the lead single from their exclusive deconstructed and stripped tour EP, “A Far Cry”.

BUY THE ALBUM.

4. Crippled Black Phoenix – Troublemaker (from the upcoming album I, Vigilante)

It was just over a year ago that I had the chance to witness Crippled Black Phoenix live in concert, and things haven’t been the same since. Sure, the band features members of Mogwai, Electric Wizard, and Gonga, but CBP are much more than a sum of their parts. Creating some of the most powerful music since the legendary era of Pink Floyd’s finest works, these guys do everything on a grand scale with sonic compositions that beautifully expand and develop. To call their music post-rock would be unfair, as their penchant for progressive, experimental, alternative metal, folk, and art rock play equal part in their magnificent music. 2010 will see the release of the band’s new mini album I, Vigilante, a set comprised of tales of warning, trouble, standing your ground, and stories of our history. If the album is anything similar to the lead single, we are in for another masterpiece.

BUY AN ALBUM.

5. Geronimo! – Thunderbattles (from the album Fuzzy Dreams)

Chicago, IL’s Geronimo! are an independent band destined to make a name for themselves. The band aren’t playing into any trends or hype, but have delivered a debut album filled with exceptional musicianship and hypnotic songwriting that can’t go unnoticed. Their song structures build and release with unexpected results, thrashing and weaving their polyrhythmic attack through clouds of fuzz soaked guitars. The band plays at their own pace, alternating between hazy crawls and manic outbursts, making sure to keep the audience attentive and consumed by their otherworldly grooves.

BUY THE ALBUM.

6. Maps & Atlases – Solid Ground (from the upcoming album Perch Patchwork)

Indie sensations Maps & Atlases are gearing up to release their full length debut Perch Patchwork on June 29th, a fact that causes much reason for excitement. Since the arrival of the Chicago quartet led by Dave Davison released their first recording to Sargent House Records they have been building a loyal and dedicated audience with their fiery progressive indie pop tunes. Talent is in no short supply as the band aptly burst through mind bending time changes into shinning quirky pop centered jams with massive displays of tasteful technical prowess. Their full length debut, arriving through Barsuk Records, shows a transition of sorts, with a stronger focus on earthier tones and greater attention to melodic detail. The album is phenomenal, and should be topping many year-end best-of lists.

BUY THE ALBUM.

7. Slang Chickens – Tropics (from the album Slang Chickens)

Los Angeles, CA’s Slang Chickens self titled debut is an infectious, sunshine soaked, record filled with eclectic sounds and sing-a-long melodies. The band’s sound is an amalgamation of punk, surf, indie pop, folk, Americana, and psychedelic rock. Their songs are short and to the point, with hooks built to engrain themselves in your memory with the greatest of ease. There is an undeniable sense of “cool” coming from the young quartet, as the band’s punk spirit mixes with catchy psychedelic pop choruses and terrific upbeat harmonies. Layers of acoustic guitars, banjos, lap steels, and enormous gang vocal harmonizing add to the band’s triumphant texture, allowing Slang Chickens to create a sound that is both familiar and unmistakably unique. Their debut album is simply phenomenal, so please do yourself a favor and listen to the entire record; addictive from start to finish.

BUY THE ALBUM.

8. Old Canes – Little Bird Courage (from the album Feral Harmonic)

Feral Harmonic, the sophomore release from Chris Crisci’s Old Canes is an album filled with wonderment and timeless Americana from start to finish. Their sound is organic, uplifting, and peaceful without ever being boring. Released in 2009 on Saddle Creek Records, the album is a dazzling collection of honest heartfelt vocals, acoustic instrumentation, intricate rhythms, and genuine charm. Crisci, better known from his achievements with The Appleseed Cast, has a knack for jaw dropping indie folk, showcased throughout the album’s rustic vibe and extensive Americana inspired instrumentation. Old Canes have delivered an album that will always stand the test of time, glowing in the bright shine of lo-fidelity glory.

BUY THE ALBUM.

9. Me You Us Them – Pretty Nettles (from the album Post-Data)

I’ve been patiently waiting to release Me You Us Them upon the EIS world for quite sometime now. The time has arrived, with the band’s full length debut album Post-Data released through Triple Down Records now available. The album was every bit worth the wait, as the Brooklyn trio have made a masterpiece of woozy shoegaze triumphantly whirring through post-punk jaggedness and simple yet memorable vocal melodies. These guys take elements of two of my favorite genres and mix them flawlessly into one loud unapologetic storm of squealing guitars and catchy hooks.

BUY THE ALBUM.

10. Wintersleep – New Inheritors (from the album New Inheritors)

With a sound that is never content to stay the same, Wintersleep have reinvented themselves with each album, and have done so with glorious results. Hailing from Halifax, Canada, the band have made stunning album after album since their debut was released five years ago. The guys just released their fourth album New Inheritors, and once again are taking us further into the psyche of Wintersleep. Combining folk rock, alternative, experimental rhythmic structures, and lush soundscapes, the band simply dazzle with each and every song. Singer Paul Murphy’s delicate vocals soar with honesty and genuine emotion, controlling your attention side by side with gorgeous guitar tones and creatively complex drumming. Wintersleep have earned the devout respect of their native country, and the time for the US to take serious notice is long overdue.

BUY THE ALBUM.

11. Anakin – Abort.Retry.Fail (from the album Abort.Retry.Fail.)

Anakin have risen from the ashes of the almighty Orion, picking up directly where they had left off, in deep outer-space. Drummer Brad Chancellor is joined by Chris Rosenthal as the two launch headfirst into warp speed with their fuzzed out sound and limitless echoes. Their song writing techniques will immediately bring you back to the golden days of Failure and Hum, a welcome sound that permeates through the speakers in crisp sonic glory.

BUY THE SINGLE.

12. Doomstar! – Sharon Mitchel (from the album Rainbow Bloodsucker)

Hailing from Cambridge, MA, Doomstar! has quickly emerged as one of Boston’s brightest new up-and-comers. Their sound is a warped collision of noise, psychedelic pop, and garage rock, providing the perfect soundtrack for the haziest of occasions. Extreme layers of fuzz contrast the glistening jangle of guitars on their second release, Rainbow Bloodsucker, in just as many years. The music simply pours from the band, as they recorded the album in just a week’s time, writing spaced out noise-pop worthy of making you hear colors.

BUY THE ALBUM.

13. LaFaro – Tupenny Nudger (from the album LaFaro)

LaFaro bring their storm of rough and punchy punk rock from their home of Belfast, Ireland to your ears with a raw enthusiasm rarely seen these days. With their debut album officially released on Smalltown America records in the UK, the band continues to make their presence known with energetic live shows capturing their punk and grunge fueled intensity in full splendor. LaFaro make the type of music that demands to be played at a loud volume featuring hard jarring riffs, monolithic drumming that pummels all in its path, and snarling vocals capable of peeling paint from a wall.

BUY THE ALBUM.

14. Left Lane Cruiser – Hillgrass Bluebilly (from the album All You Can Eat!)

The Mississippi Delta blues is alive and well in Fort Wayne, Indiana thanks to the raw and powerful efforts of stoner blues duo Left Lane Cruiser. Drummer Brenn “Sausage Paw” Beck tears through good ol’ knee stomping rhythms so backwoods you’ll instantly be drifted out to your front porch, only complimented by Freddy J IV’s dirty swamp slide guitar rattling in. The band have an incredible chemistry, as their blues licks and good humor blend with songs about down home cooking, blue collar living, and the finer things in life. Freddy’s vocals are rough and raw, somewhere between the bluesmen of the past and the stoner metal sound of Orange Goblin. Their live show is something to be witnessed, as the guys jam with rough soul, leaving no doubt that Jimmy Page would be proud of the sound Left Lane Cruiser have created.

BUY THE ALBUM.

15. Weird Owl – Mirrors in the Mud (previously unreleased)

If you are looking for the pure psychedelic rock sound of the 70s, look no further than Brooklyn, NY’s very own Weird Owl. The easy going mysticism of the band generated an incredible debut record, Ever the Silver Cord Be Loosed released on Tee Pee Records, and Weird Owl are ready to induce flashbacks with their sophomore release. The outpour of sonic sludge riffs rival the best material from Dead Meadow, as Weird Owl show promise to take over consciousness of the tripped out masses. The band is gracious enough to share a demo from their upcoming album, creating a logical progression for their leisurely paced kaleidoscopic rock travels. Warped swirls of guitars join double tracked vocals and slow burning guitar riffs that will expand your mind if you’re ready to commit to the trip.

BUY THE ALBUM.

16. Red Bellows – L.S. Blues (previously unreleased)

The alternative/progressive style of Boston’s Red Bellows is unique and ultimately extremely promising. Rising from the ashes of the beloved Plastic Reverie, singer Marc Pellegrino and guitarist Sean McDermott have evolved into the mystically haunting Red Bellows with their exceptional new drummer Don Taylor. Progressive tendencies creep their way into lush psychedelic passages that create songs as intelligent as they are memorable. Creative time signatures swirl with ominous guitars and thick grooving rhythms, as Pellegrino’s voice naturally resonates through the music’s twists and turns. The band are currently searching for a new bassist, while remaining hard at work recording their debut album set for a late summer or fall release.

17. Awesome Color – Slaughterhouse (from the album Massa Hypnos)

The extended psychedelic jamming conjured up by Awesome Color is a tribute to rock’s past, and these Detroit natives are paying their respects with honors. Chaotic sonic freakouts are alive and well on the bands third Ecstatic Peace release, Massa Hypnos, combined with a new refined sound taking the band further into the indie rock circles. With a heavy focus on the classic Stooges garage rock school of punk wisdom, Awesome Color send up a riotous good time with trance inducing grooves and enough guitar solos to melt your brain. The spirit of rock and roll soars high within Awesome Color, and their jangly Detroit sound provides a much needed energy to a fading scene.

BUY THE ALBUM.

18. Gods Are Ghosts – Bloodstream (from the album Lights)

The very first thing I found out about Gods and Ghosts was that their debut EP Lights was produced, recorded, and mixed by Kevin Butler at Test Tube Audio (Exeter/Magnet School). Once again, Butler has associated himself with a fantastic band, as Gods are Ghosts storm out the gate with dark walls of guitars, hypnotic poly-rhythmic drumming, and an immensely powerful vocal performance that sounds unique with a degree of familiarity. The band have certainly listened to their fair share of Tool, but forge ahead with their own blend of alternative and progressive metal. You can download the entire EP for FREE at the band's bandcamp website.

DISC 2:

1. The Twilight Sad – Reflection of the Television (from the album Forget The Night Ahead)

Proving that music can be equal parts brain and brawn, Scotland’s The Twilight Sad have carved a nice niche for themselves over the past few years, comfortably blending wall of sound shoegaze, post-rock, and indie elements. Forming in Glasgow, the band is led by James Graham’s traditionally heavy accent that gently lifts over the mountains of noise and atmosphere with a charming calm to balance the blaring moodiness. Heavy muscular riffs play counterpart to the introspective lyrics and hypnotic rhythms capturing a new found clarity and directness to their sound.

BUY THE ALBUM.

2. Caspian – Of Foam and Wave (from the album Tertia)

Since 2007, Beverly, MA’s Caspian has taken the post rock world by storm, very possibly emerging as the best the genre has seen since its inception. On last year’s sophomore effort Tertia, the band show that gorgeous soundscapes of orchestral guitars can be heavy as well as energetic. Seeing Caspian live is like an out of body experience, with stellar layers upon layers of guitars and intricate texture delivered with the full blown explosiveness many post-rock bands tend to lack. Their songs are brutal yet beautiful, tightly structured without meaningless wandering.

BUY THE ALBUM.

3. Disappearer – A Skull Full of Bats (from the album The Clearing)

Six years in the making, Disappearer’s 2009 debut album The Clearing is a classic. The Boston based trio featuring Doomriders’ Jebb Riley have constructed what many consider to be a perfect album, flawlessly heavy, interesting, and sludgy. Crushing riffs slowly blacken the speakers, reverberating against dense plodding bass lines and textural drum patterns. The vocals are consistently melodic, alternating between aggressive shouts and cleanly sung passages. Drawing elements from bands as diverse as Isis and Joy Division can wield mixed results, but Disappearer are more than capable of making it work. Their debut album sits comfortably in the company of Pelican, Baroness, or Torche, and I can only hope there is much more to come. If you love good thick sludge as much as we do, get this album immediately, crank it up, give your undivided attention, and prepare to be amazed.

BUY THE ALBUM.

4. Imaad Wasif – Razorlike (from the album The Voidist)

After serving his time with bands such as Alaska!, The New Folk Implosion, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Imaad Wasif began his solo career and quickly triumphed over all his previous accomplishments. His most recent effort The Voidist shows Wasif unafraid to tackle an enormous sound that would have made Led Zeppelin proud. The guitars are loud and surging with life as they paint psychedelic illuminations over his mystic story telling folk inspired vocals. The album is filled with the dynamics of a classic, transporting the audience into another realm with fantastic fretwork and a howl reminiscent of the late great Jeff Buckley. Imaad Wasif’s soul is on full display throughout The Voidist, and Exploding In Sound can only thank him for that.

BUY THE ALBUM.

5. Jacob Turnbloom – Your Soul Can Be Sold (previously unreleased)

Jacob Turnbloom is a musician, formerly of San Diego’s First Wave Hello. He is now in a band called Mrs. Magician. He likes to keep things strange, thank you for understanding. If you like his music, check it out.

6. Grass Is Green – Greenville (from the upcoming album Yeddo)

Grass Is Green hasn’t been around for long, but from the moment I heard their music, I was hooked. Their infectious post-punk sound is fully realized and technically dazzling. Harmonics whirl around shifting time signatures, angular guitars that ooze with diabolical creativity, and simplistic vocal melodies that sit casually amongst the controlled chaos. Their debut album Yeddo will arrive later this year, but for now enjoy this small sample of all Grass Is Green have to offer. The track hasn’t even been mastered yet, but duo to our excitement to share the band with the world, we simply couldn’t wait.

7. Hold Your Horse Is – Christopher Walken (from the EP Everyone Runs Faster With a Knife)

Ferocious post-hardcore from the UK seems to be a blooming movement these days, and Hold Your Horse Is are making their name known in the genre. Hailing from Brighton/London, the power trio rip through their songs with massive brute force and pummeling rhythmic dynamics. Named after Hella’s debut album, the band has very little in common with their namesake aside from the fact that both pulsate with intensity at every moment. Spastic and complex, Hold Your Horse Is keep their songs tight with punk fury, catchy vocal melodies, and loads of jagged shimmering guitars.

BUY THE EP.

8. Red Fang – Good To Die (from the album Red Fang)

Red Fang have thrown out all the rules of making a metal album. The Portland, OR quartet play the music they want to, and nothing about it is formulaic. Shifting from enormous hypnotic riffs to grinding buzz saw guitars, these guys have etched out a bright segment within today’s indie metal scene. Their melodies are engaging and infectious, the drumming is suited for stadiums, and their song structures shift at the drop of a dime into monolithic heavy jam sessions. While we highly anticipate their next effort, we present you with a track from their debut, a song that rings with riffs as thick as the smoke they drifted in with.

BUY THE ALBUM.

9. Gozu – Meat Charger (from the album Locust Season)

Boston’s Gozu play a breed of genuine rock and roll that simply kicks ass, crushing all that’s in their path. Having signed to Small Stone Recordings, the band recently released their debut full length Locust Season for digital sale on iTunes, with the physical copies arriving early Fall. Their sound draws heavily from 90’s stoner rock, bringing a new take on the sound explored by Kyuss, Monster Magnet, and even Soundgarden. Singer/guitarist Marc Gaffney’s voice shifts from high to low as necessary, while the band slam into deep grooves and roaring guitar solos.

BUY THE ALBUM.

10. Helms Alee – A New Roll (from the album Night Terror)

Seattle, WA’s Helms Alee are not your average heavy experimental band. For starters, their rhythm section comprising two thirds of the band are female, and their Hydra Head debut puts a monstrous emphasis on art and discovery. Lead vocalist/guitarist Ben Verellen barks in low Melvins-esque tones amid soft/loud dynamic shifts that stun with atmospheric intensity. The vocals are often tripled for incredible three part male/female harmonies, floating above explosions of noise and colossal rhythmic grooves that could strip rust off a shed. This is far from your conventional metal album, often recalling the grunge establishment artists, but is able to thrive in a time where artistic indie metal has become widely appreciated.

BUY THE ALBUM.

11. Actors & Actresses – Dig To China (from the album Arrows)

Actors & Actresses straddle the line of space rock and shoegaze very delicately, mixing the best elements of both into a unique sound that thrives with multi layered beauty. Hailing from Kansas City, the songs comprising the bands full length Mylene Sheath debut, Arrows, are dreamy down-tempo blasts of heavenly reverb, pulsating electronics, breathy vocals, and soaring layers of carefully textured guitars. Combining a love for Failure, Isis, and Mogwai, Actors & Actresses sound is rich in density as well as replay value.

BUY THE ALBUM.

12. Solare – Winners (from the upcoming EP Fireworks Over A Funeral)

Solare contributed a cover of Failure’s “Daylight” to The Nurse Who Loved Me tribute album, a track that remains my favorite from the record. Upon checking out their original tunes, they were all spectacular as well. Their music is built around dreamy space rock that generates texture from woozy acoustics and soaring electric guitars, centered by inescapable sing-a-long pop melodies. Solare’s future was looking real bright, but then things went silent. Nearly two years later, I’m thrilled to announce the return of a newly energized Solare, set to self release their sophomore EP later this year. “Winners” showcases the band doing what they do best, bright vocal harmonies from the entire band, guitars lifting out this stratosphere, and triumphant drumming to hold everything in place.

BUY THEIR DEBUT EP.

13. The World Concave – Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program (from the upcoming EP Harbor)

The World Concave is a New Jersey collective of musicians and friends who have come together to make music for the sake of making music. Featuring members of (Damn) This Desert Air, Elemae, and Ex Number Five, the band have plenty of experience, but have developed a sound unique to this project. Their music is an organic blend of alternative rock, shoegaze, and folk music, containing trace elements of just about every sub-genre imaginable. The band are ready to release their debut EP Harbor later this summer, and have been gracious enough to give EIS the honor of debuting the first ever glimpse into their world with “Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program”.

14. Sky Parade – I Should Be Coming Up (But I Keep Coming Down) (from the album Intoxicated)

The clean sparkle of Sky Parade’s shoegaze injected pop music is more than ready for the mainstream psychedelic audience. The band treads in the same circles with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and The Black Angels, adopting the same stylistic approach to their tripped out sound. “I Should Be Coming Up” is the lead single from the band’s third full length record Intoxicated, and features production from The Dandy Warhols’ Courtney Taylor-Taylor and a guest appearance from the Dandy’s Zia McCabe.

BUY THE ALBUM.

15. Digital Homicide – Transmission (from the upcoming EP Bender)

The idea behind Digital Homicide had been kicked around for some time until this spring made it a reality. Comprised of three lifelong friends (two of which formerly comprised B.L. Barakus), the band deliver a mixture of spaced out synth rock with a vibe similar to the mighty Ken Andrews’ solo work. The recording of the band’s debut EP found a revolving cast of vocalists including Satellite Tragedy’s Ridd Sorensen, (Damn) This Desert Air’s Craig Cirinelli, and Catch The Sun’s J Dubbs. In April the band announced J Dubbs would take over as the band’s official frontman, also adding a second guitarist to the mix to cement their five man space rock coalition.

16. The Black Shades – Don’t Put Salt On My Grave (from the album Turn Me On, Electric)

Bowling Green’s The Black Shades have made a debut EP that serves up many different styles and moods in a very short time. Their rock and roll sentiments are pure, and they are serving up music for good times. Whether the band are strutting through jangly Rolling Stones influenced rock, danceable David Bowie moments, or the garage sounds of The White Stripes, one thing is certain, this band is giving you all they’ve got. If you’re looking for honest rock that is radio friendly, full of charm, catchy lyrics, and tasteful guitar licks, The Black Shades are here and ready to please.

BUY THE ALBUM.

17. Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea – Any Port In A Storm (from the EP It’s The Falling That Counts, Not the Landing)

Whatever it is about London’s post-hardcore scene, I can’t help but find myself completely enamored by it. Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea is the latest band to offer their take on the resurging genre, pulling their sound to the extreme in both directions. Choppy disjointed guitars twinkle over sharp polyrhythmic drumming and manic outbursts of sound on one side of their musical spectrum. On the other side, the band show a talent for creating soft atmospheric landscapes, generally accompanied by blistering shouts from the band’s vocalist and storms of swirling guitars.

BUY THE EP.