Mixtape: Thanksgiving

A time for reflection and giving thanks for all the great things in our lives.....music. A collection of songs for the day or week of Thanksgiving. Some of them very sincere, others very sinical and dark, and still others just have the word thanks in them. Enjoy the day! Spotify Thanksgiving Mix

TJI: Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler /The Dream

Thee Oh Sees - Carrion Crawler
Thee Oh Sees - The Dream

The second release of the year for this San Fransisco band. What was a nice side project of John Dwyer's (The Coachwhips) has developed into full blown band. The last album Castlemainia had a cool ramshackle garage sound; this latest release is even cooler, still ramshackle, and still garage. Some of the songs are silly but the whole album shows a real passion for making a joyful noise.

85%
Band website
Carrion Crawler / The Dream is out now.

TJI: Summer Camp

Summer Camp- Better Off Without You
Summer Camp - I Want You

I'm very frustrated by the inability to insert YouTube video into these posts using the iPad. There are some great videos to go with this band, but you will have to search them out yourself. This is a strong pop album and is easy to enjoy with just one listen. Upbeat and peppy even when it is talking about break-ups and heartbreak. The draw back is this album should have come out in June so we could enjoy it all summer long. We'll see if the album has staying power or if it is so bright that it burns out quickly.


Standout Tracks:
Better Off Without You
I Want You
Losing My Mind
Down
Ghost Train

Percentage Grade: 82%

Band Website
New album Welcome to Condale is available now.

TJI: Cass McCombs

Cass McCombs - The Same Thing

I've tried posting this review three times now, but have had so many problems with blogpress and blogger on the IPad that it hasn't happened till now. This album would fit in great with the alt country of the 90's. This is Cass's second release (Wits End was the first) of the year and I wonder if he would have been better served making one great release instead of two good ones. Don't know the whole story but I guess it possible that the inspiration for these songs came after the first release. There are some great tracks here, like Same Thing which is posted above but also a few boring tracks. I would recommend downloading parts of each album and you'll be good to go.

79%
New album Humor Risk is available now from Amazon for 5.99.
Band Website

Very frustrated with the bloggings apps on IPad and with Blogger itself for not having an app. Seems like the IPad would be the ultimate in blogging given that it is small, portable, and easy to access, but that is not the case. Someone needs to get on the ball and start designing, until then my posting will be limited. Boo hoo.

Mixtape: Sickly

Feeling a little down in the dumps. Sour throat, cough, runny nose and all the other little things that nag you when your sick. Here is a mix to make me and anyone else feel better. Sick or not this is worth a listen. Click here to go the playlist on Spotify



Here are some of the Highlights:
Sick, Sick, Sick - Queens of Stoned Age
Fever Dreams - Nurses
Sick of Myself - Matthew Sweet
Fever Dreaming - No Age
Still Ill - The Smiths
Sick - Twilight Sad
Monster Hospital - Metric
Jesus Fever - Kurt Vile
Pneumonia - Bjork


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

TJI: Nurses

Nurses - Trying to Reach You
Nurses - Fever Dreams


I love the psychedelic garage music coming out of this Portland band. There is a kaleidoscope of sounds and layers. The lead singer has a weird voice that some how remains interesting and not annoying. Not a bad song on the album, Trying to Reach You and Fever Dreams will give you a taste. If you like it, get the whole meal.
Band Website
You can get album Dracula right now at Amazon.
89%

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

TJI: Real Estate

Real Estate - It's Real
Real Estate - Green Aisles
This is jangly guitar pop that is easy to listen to. There is nothing grating or confusing about the sound. The album is well recorded and it has a simple and dreamy sound that lends itself to listening while driving. The first single It's Real is one of the best tracks from the month of October.


83%

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

TJI: Phantogram

Phantogram - Don't Move
Phantogram - 16 Years


Pleasant sound. Nice soft vocals (female and male), cool synths, beats, and sweet looping effects. The earth didn't shake when I listened to this album but I did listen till the end, which says something. Nightlife is a long EP at 7 tracks, but seems like the perfect length for an attention span these days. Don't Move is easily my favorite track, followed by Turning Into Stone.
75%
Band Website
Album Nightlife out now

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad