The task of writing the liner notes for Exploding In Sound's Until My Head Explodes: Greatest Hits without a mess load of gushing and absurd amounts of praise is impossible… it is after all our greatest hits. I often wonder how bands, labels, etc choose the selections that make a greatest hits record, but for Exploding In Sound, it was fairly simple. As a celebration of the first ten compilations and all of the 221 bands that have been featured, we didn’t go with the biggest and most popular for our greatest hits, but rather a selection of the bands that have driven us to pure and utter obsession. A crop of rock bands from all over the globe that we can’t live without, it only seemed right to give the Exploding In Sound faithful a second taste. The future has arrived, and it’s time to get reacquainted. We can’t recommend these artists enough and hope to spread our obsession to you and yours.
Be sure to check out UNTIL MY HEAD EXPLODES: THE SAGA CONTINUES, the second half of the two disc set complete with twenty two brand new bands for your rock pleasure.
DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE COMPILATION FOR FREE at Exploding In Sound's official Bandcamp page. As always the compilation is intended for promotional use only so get your FREE digital download now!! The download comes with brilliant and radiant artwork from our friends at We Three Club, links for further enjoyment of all the bands, complete liner notes and more. Thanks to everyone who has helped put this collection together, especially the bands, their labels, and management. Without the help, interest, and cooperation of these people none of this would be possible... 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 in badass rock music! The compilation series has been a lot of fun and continues to reach new ears around the world, we can only hope you will continue to embrace our ever expanding catalog. EIS can only grow with your help and support, so spread the word.
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 reach as many ears as possible, and word of mouth is always appreciated. PLEASE DOWNLOAD, SHARE, REPOST, and spread the word to everyone you know. ENJOY!
Special thanks go out to all of the bands, We Three Club for their amazing artwork, Cathy and Marc at Sargent House, Tom Bellhouse at I Like Press, Kevin Douch at Big Scary Monsters, Talya Elitzer at Mick Management, Bob Lugowe at Relapse, Shanna MacLasco at GHouse, Alexandra Comito at Stunt Company, Marc Schapiro at Branch Marketing Collective, Charlotte Neal at Brontone Management, Larry Suglio at Pop Up Records, Craig Cirinelli, my family, friends, and everyone who is supporting the cause.
Sincerely,
Dan Goldin // ExplodingInSound.com
*DOWNLOAD via BANDCAMP
TRACKLISTING AND ARTIST INFORMATION:
1. Tera Melos – Aped (from the album Patagonian Rats)
The impact Tera Melos’ Patagonian Rats had on Exploding In Sound remains gigantic. At its core, the record is a collection of pop songs, but this is just about as far removed from the abysmal Top 40 as possible. Sonic exploration, mind blowing guitars, and brilliant rhythms are all stellar on an out of this world level that caught EIS off guard, and we couldn’t be more thankful. Patagonian Rats was our favorite album of 2010, and we’re still discovering more we love about the record with every spin. The sheer level of musical complexity combined with monstrous catchy hooks is unlike anything we’ve heard before (or since) and Tera Melos do it all with a joyous drugged out humor.
BUY THE ALBUM.
2. Grass Is Green – Uhm Tsk (from the album Yeddo)
I still remember the first time I saw Grass Is Green live like it was yesterday… except since that fateful night during the summer of 2010, I’ve probably seen them twenty times since… literally. One of the best live bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing, the quartet play with a reckless abandonment fueled by primal atonal guitar work and some of the most intense drumming conceivable. Grass Is Green is the type of band you could go see every night and never lose interest, thanks to the raw talent and gritty musicianship from every member. This is the legendary post-punk of the 90s reimagined and restructured into its own tangled carnage, and they’re only getting started. Devin McKnight, one of the band’s two insanely awesome guitarists once said to me, “people need to know that music can be dirty,” and I couldn’t have agreed more.
BUY THE ALBUM.
3. Pile - #1 Hit Single (from the album Magic Isn’t Real)
As far as I’m concerned, Pile should be the biggest band in the world. A&R reps worldwide should be knocking their doors down, and the bidding wars should have begun a long time ago… but that’s not reality. In reality, Pile are one of the hardest working DIY bands out there, and their sophomore album Magic Isn’t Real is one of Exploding In Sound’s favorite albums ever created… ever (Jerk Routine and the mainly acoustic Demonstration are close behind). An impossibly solid album that I’ve spent days listening to on repeat, their songs are vicious and intensely memorable with swampy vocals and mountainous riffs that seem to appear out of thin air. Pile is the type of band that can appeal to hardcore punks, the VPs at alternative rock radio, and every single person in between. Rick Maguire, the band’s guitarist and vocalist, is easily one of the greatest song writers of the past decade, and that’s not to take anything away from Pile’s fantastic rhythm section. The Boston trio is a live force like no other, destroying basements and clubs nationwide with a relentless touring schedule, creating new diehard fans on a nightly basis. If people will still be listening to Pile fifty years from now is anyone’s guess… but they damn well should be.
BUY THE ALBUM.
4. Disco Doom – Cptn. Petal & Mr. Scar (from the album Dream Electric)
Disco Doom have spent the past few years touring with Built to Spill, Dinosaur Jr, Lou Barlow, and The Butthole Surfers, all legendary figures of the early 90s, and most importantly, the type of company Disco Doom fit comfortably with. Hailing from Zurich, Switzerland, the core members Anita Rufer and Gabriele De Mario have been making music together for well over a decade, releasing rrkr in 2002 and the infectious binary stars shortly after in 2003. After a five year break came Dream Electric, one of the greatest indie rock albums ever laid to wax. It was around the time our obsession with the band reached fever pitch, and to this very moment we can’t tear ourselves away from this record’s heavenly noisy guitar tones as only Disco Doom can provide. De Mario and Rufer’s guitars explode with colorful texture and fuzzy sounds, shaken, bent, and warped into aural euphoria. De Mario’s vocals yearn with an honest and laid back melody throughout the record, a masterpiece in its own right and one of few albums we consider to be perfect. With no signs of slowing down, the band released an exclusive tour EP Green Exciter followed by the psychedelic noise experimentation of their latest effort Trux Reverb. Word on the streets is Disco Doom will be back on American soil this fall. Stay tuned.
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5. True Widow – Blooden Horse (from the album As High as the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth)
Back in the early months of 2009, True Widow was kind enough to grace our very first compilation Bands You Need to Know 2009. We’ve been in love with the slowcore sounds of this Austin trio since the first time we ever heard the band, and it seems they’re only getting better and better. Mesmerizing guitars, deep rhythmic grooves, and vocal harmonies that float with heart stopping beauty, their self-described “stonegaze” sound is blasting with dreary confidence. Their live shows are an absolute must see, garnering the band tours with …Trail of Dead and Boris, as well as sold out headlining shows nationwide. Their slow churned songs quake with a hypnotic pulse, dreamy sludge, and deafening volume on stage, with a sound as big as the state they hail from.
BUY THE ALBUM.
6. Red Fang – Hank is Dead (from the album Murder The Mountains)
If there was a better single released in 2009 than Red Fang’s “Prehistoric Dog,” we’re not aware of it. Together with its music video, our absolute favorite since the mid-90s, the mighty Red Fang had us hooked like a junkie since the very beginning, one ear shattering riff at a time. The Portland, OR quartet thrashes out bruising stoner rock with riffs and drum fills so huge they could crush entire cities to the ground. Luckily for us, Red Fang have an amazing sense of humor, and are more concerned with having a great time and being generally badass than pillaging our towns. Lead vocals from Bryan Giles and Aaron Beam give the band an expansive sound that combines sludge, psychedelic, and stoner rock like the triumphant bastard child of The Melvins and Queens of the Stone Age. Standing at the forefront of a new generation of heavy, Red Fang’s Murder The Mountains is a phenomenal display of skull crushing strength and mind bending brilliance that impacts like a comet hurtling towards Earth.
BUY THE ALBUM.
7. Pulled Apart By Horses – I Punched A Lion In The Throat (from the album Pulled Apart By Horses)
Nothing in the world could have prepared me for my first Pulled Apart By Horses show. The Leeds, UK quartet has earned the distinction as one of the country’s finest live acts, and after a week of watching them destroy SXSW venues in disbelief, even that seems like an understatement. The sheer energy and aggression surging through the band is magnified into near chaos, but never at the expense of their crushing post-hardcore genius. Wild skate punk fury blends with crushing rhythms and spastic riffs that collide with the momentum of an earthquake. Destructive and blistering, the band is like nothing I’ve ever witnessed, grinding out artistic hardcore with a sardonic humor, gritty as a fistful of nails and rowdy as a riot. Their self-titled debut is a classic record, filled with pounding anthems of focused punk mayhem that shatters all expectations. PABH just finished recording their sophomore record, and we can’t wait to hear their next step toward world domination.
BUY THE ALBUM.
8. Mr. Dream – Trash Hit (from the album Trash Hit)
Trash Hit, the debut album from Brooklyn’s Mr. Dream is our favorite debut this year. In the ten compilations released so far, we’ve never had a harder choice of what song to choose, as their songs are all infectious as hell. The trio wear their influences proudly, offering loud heaps of Nirvana, Pixies, and Touch and Go Records nostalgia. Their often minimalistic approach is barebones but burly, and simply put these guys can rip shit up. It’s clear they are having fun blowing out their amps, evident in their lyrics from the very first line, “it’s lamentable… it’s not exactly my cup of tea but what the hey”. A solid record of raw punk angst and indie charm, Mr. Dream should be on their way to becoming a household name. Check out their brand new single “Moneybags” while you’re at it.
BUY THE ALBUM.
9. Lafaro – Great Conversations Remembered No. 36: Jeff Hinton (from the album Lafaro)
Lafaro have been referred to as “a wrecking ball of a band” a fitting description for their propulsive post-punk avalanche of noise. Hailing from Belfast, the quartet aren’t interested in making pretty sounds, their music soars with gargantuan riffs that stampede all in its path without hesitation. This is big, dirty, vicious, and downright fun, reminiscent of the sick and twisted McLusky or The Jesus Lizard. We were blown away by their self titled debut, and are pleased to report the bar has been raised even higher on the upcoming Easy Meat, due out in October. Lead singer Johnny Black’s vocals are sneering and extremely unique, with hilarious lyrics that rest comfortably within the massive riffs and thunderous rhythms. The band is constantly on tour throughout the UK, head banging their way from city to city. Seeing the guys live at SXSW was all we ever hoped for, and we can’t wait ‘til their stateside return.
BUY THE ALBUM.
10. The Library is on Fire – Cinematic Idea (from the album Magic Window, Magic Nights)
Brooklyn’s The Library is on Fire may just be to heir to the 90s indie guitar rock throne. Having worked closely with various members of Guided By Voices, they have received a legendary stamp of approval, and their last effort Magic Window, Magic Nights is absolutely amazing. The record doesn’t sound like an indie grunge rip off, it sounds like a lost recording from the most glorious decade of rock. Filled with crunchy guitars, pounding drums, and memorable hooks, these are the type of songs that burn their way into your subconscious for months on end. The Library is on Fire know how to construct catchy music while offering a wide range of blissful sonic territory. The band will release the highly anticipated Works on Paper this fall.
BUY THE ALBUM.
11. …And You Will Know us by The Trail of Dead – Summer of All Dead Souls (from the album Tao of the Dead)
…Trail of Dead have been making exceptionally great and often grandiose rock and roll since the early 90s, and having them a part of the Exploding In Sound compilation series is an overwhelming honor. The Austin based collective is our absolute favorite live band in the world, and there’s nothing like witnessing one of their shows to further our obsession. Prog rock and artistic post-punk collide within their signature sound, constantly expanding and evolving toward the future, the true essence of progressive rock. We loved the band as a six piece during The Century of Self era, though the guys scaled down to a quartet for Tao of the Dead, their stunning 2011 album and latest near masterpiece. The two song suite pretty much defines epic as the conceptual sixteen tracks are forged into distinct sides that run together in perfect harmony exploring spaced out angular walls of sound as only …Trail of Dead can.
BUY THE ALBUM.
12. Slang Chickens – Parasited Out (from the album Slang Chickens)
Los Angeles’ Slang Chickens are the “kitchen sink” of psychedelic rock, meaning there is nothing this band can’t do. Incorporating folk, country, punk, blues, lo-fi, surf, and a smattering of everything else you can think of, Slang Chickens blend styles with the greatest of ease. Remember the days when you could crank an album full blast and sing along to every single song on it? Slang Chickens certainly do, and their self titled debut graciously fills that void, offering about as much fun as you can have in thirty six minutes with your pants on. The album transitions flawlessly while drastically changing directions, and there are few albums we’d rather be listening to. The band followed up their debut with this year’s My Floor EP, another solid offering that tends to stray closer to their alt/country territory in grand fashion.
BUY THE ALBUM.
13. Shoes And Socks Off – Here’s My Head on a Plate (from the album Robin Hood Waiter Champion Have-Not)
Tobias Hayes may have made a name for himself in the UK as the enigmatic frontman of post-hardcore luminaries Meet Me In St. Louis, but since their dissolution he’s upped the ante as a solo musician under the guise Shoes And Socks Off. Quite possibly the most consistently beautiful song writing we’ve ever heard, his lyrics are poetic, dreary, and generally brilliant. Most of Shoes and Socks Off compositions are constructed with only Hayes’ gorgeous voice and acoustic guitar, but this isn’t the bullshit watered down singer/songwriter music that comes with the territory. Hayes’ post-punk background weighs heavily in the chord choices and structures, even in their most primal state. His thick English accent is swooning and elegant with an honest appeal completely void of studio magic. Hayes is a truly fantastic and rather restless musician, having released four full length records, an EP of covers, and a book of lyrics since December 2008, not to mention his various other projects (check out Love Among The Mannequins debut coming in October).
BUY THE ALBUM.
14. Dirty Dishes – Deer in Headlights (from the album Dirty Dishes)
Exploding In Sound and the more traditional Boston music press rarely ever see eye to eye. In fact, we’re usually enraged about their stagnant choice to feature the same five bands over and over again, but we can find mutual ground with Dirty Dishes. The press loves them, we love them, and for good reason… they kick some serious ass live. Their debut EP is an astonishing glimpse into the band’s capabilities, slow as molasses vocal melodies that waver amid distorted riffs, keys, and frantic rhythms. Drummer Mike Thomas’ spastic chaos is the perfect juxtaposition for the dreamy atmospheric guitars, and witnessing the band live is a must with equal importance placed on every member of the band. Spaced out guitars reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins and later era Deftones meet with swirling electronics and explosive shifting rhythms creating a dazzling and glorious impact.
BUY THE ALBUM.
15. Gift Horse – Black (from their upcoming 2012 album)
Athens, GA quartet Gift Horse has forged their own signature blend of southern tinged psych grunge, and good lord is it awesome. Stampeding drum fills blast through guitars and distorted washes of keyboards and organ, creating a dense wall of hazy sound, enveloping all in its path. Complete with a loyal dose of their hometown embedded within, Gift Horse’s soaring tunes are full of radiant charm that is never lost in the whirring barrage of noise. After spending a very long time obsessed with the band’s full length debut Mountain of Youth, we are thrilled to bring you the premiere of their brand new song “Black,” a track that has become a staple at Gift Horse’s mesmerizing shows. The band’s songwriting ebbs and flows from soft to loud within a psychedelic headspace, as gorgeous as it is woozy.
BUY THE ALBUM.
16. Roman Traffic – Acquired Attire (from the Three Four single)
The story of Boston’s Roman Traffic is like something out of rock and roll folklore. The band who first appeared on our inaugural compilation as Gravehaven changed their name to erase preconceived notions of their music. Mind expanding progressive rock structures and commanding vocal melodies soar over crushing rhythms and tangled guitar lines on the mighty Calico, a bold statement of intent from a band seething with raw talent. After touring the East Coast in support of the effort, lead singer Benjamin Grenville left the band for personal reasons. The news was heartbreaking to say the least. We were there for their final show with Ben, a magnificent singer and frontman, and it was obvious he would be missed. Several months later Grenville got into a life threatening accident, as Roman Traffic pushed on with a new singer... things were not so great. After nearly a year of intensive recovery, Grenville returned to Roman Traffic, and all was once again right in the world. Head over to their Bandcamp page and check out the new single “Rodeo Poets”.
BUY THE ALBUM.
17. Grandfather – Caught Off Guard (from the album Why I’d Try)
Like most people, we first heard about Grandfather thanks to the tireless praise of the legendary Steve Albini. Having recorded their debut album Why I’d Try at Albini’s Electrical Audio studio, the New York based post-punk band has constructed a tremendous album. Filled with psychedelic guitars that squeal and swirl, massive polyrhythmic drums, and deep grooving bass, Grandfather often embody post-rock thanks to their soft to loud dynamics. It’s clear to see why Albini has taken such a shine to the band, as their dense rhythms take a commanding control over their apocalyptic aggression, while guitars ring between atmospheric beauty and brutal jagged force. A unique vocal style offers haunting melodies amid their wavering art rock that is both the quiet before the storm and the full blown hurricane. The band recently finished up a 30 date tour, and will be headed out again for several months this fall/winter.
BUY THE ALBUM.
18. Bloody Knives – Disappear (from the album Disappear)
Bloody Knives, a shoegaze duo (now trio) from Austin, TX with industrial tendencies sure know how to make some noise. Their wall of sound is constantly blaring, destructive, and generally menacing with hard charging rhythms are vocals that float suspended in dreamy sound. While so many bands are content to mimic the shoegaze legends of the 90s, Bloody Knives are taking the genre into the next generation with a truly unique path of chaos and eerie calm. Since their inception, following the demise of The Joy Bus, Preston Maddox and Jake McCown have steadily built themselves a catalog of increasingly solid albums. Under their own Killredrocketrecords imprint, a DIY label with a strong buzz in the shoegaze underground, Bloody Knives have been able to record and tour on their own terms, with no signs of slowing down. The band recently signed to XD Records, who will release the follow up to this year’s triumphant Disappear EP.
BUY THE ALBUM.
19. RIBS – Transversal (from the album British Brains)
There are far too few bands these days aiming to take over the world, but Boston’s RIBS seem to be up for the task. With a sound built for stadium audiences, their blend of epic alternative rock is already larger than life, and the young band has a stage show to match. Blistering space rock with anthemic choruses and mercilessly beaten drums¸ RIBS sound is primed with optimism, under thick layers of distorted guitars of course. The quartet’s range is truly special, as the band seamlessly moves from hook filled radio hits to slow burning post-rock rich in atmosphere and aggressive grunge to dark new wave inspired electro pop. Patience is a mandatory requirement for RIBS fans, as their carefully plotted moves and attention to detail can keep them away for extended periods of time, just making it all the more crucial when you get to see them live in action. Already earning comparisons to Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, and Radiohead throughout the press, RIBS are only getting started.
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20. (Damn) This Desert Air – The Pod [Hum cover] (from the album Songs of Farewell and Departure: A Tribute to HUM)
The first time I ever heard (Damn) This Desert Air they were covering Failure’s “Sergeant Politeness” on Pop Up Records’ The Nurse Who Loved Me: A Tribute to Failure. Three years later it seems we have come full circle, as Exploding In Sound is thrilled to debut their latest earth shattering cover, a creative take on Hum’s “The Pod”. The track comes from the highly anticipated Songs of Farewell and Departure: A Tribute to HUM available next Tuesday, September 6th. (D)TDA aren’t just a band that covers 90s space rock staples however, with two exceptional EPs of their own, the NJ collective make their own booming space prog. Distance Waits, their most recent offering is enormous in every aspect of the word. Towering atmospherics, deep pounding rhythms, and lead singer Craig Cirinelli’s soaring vocals create stunning and hypnotic songs. Here’s hoping we can get a full length out of the guys in the near future.
BUY THE ALBUM.
21. Oceansize – Commemorative 9/11 T-Shirt (from the album Frames)
Having Oceansize on our Sonic Waves compilation was the single greatest honor in Exploding In Sound history… that was until they agreed to Greatest Hits with one of most badass sprawling tracks of their untouchable catalog. In a display of extremes, posting the news that Oceansize had disbanded this past February was the single worst moment in Exploding In Sound history. It is our humble opinion that the Manchester, UK based quintet was one of the greatest bands of our generation, and while it will forever tear away at my soul that I never had the opportunity to see them live, at least their records are timeless. If you don’t own Everyone Into Position, a certified work of genius, we recommend you buy it… immediately. Then proceed with acquiring Frames, Effloresce, Music For Nurses, and Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up. If there is any one band in the entire world that we’re waiting on a reunion for (even if they only broke up in February), Oceansize have earned that honor.
BUY THE ALBUM.
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