I tell you, I get no respect. Did you know that there are nerds on the Internet who are, at this very moment- writing about this website negatively!? Apparently my scribes against the "independent" music scene have touched the nerds in a very uncomfortable area. I've always figured that the more negative response I receive the more good I am doing. I think it's funny that I'm being called "retarded" after I called the nerds' heroes retarded! It's a cyclical name-calling match! I live for these Internet flame wars. And now, a mix tape for you. [...]
From Grails second album of 2008, Doomsdayer's Holiday, comes another heavy and spiritual, instrumental jam. With "Reincarnation Blues," the band take an ancient Eastern melody, one that's tailor made for a stylish, art house kung-fu movie, and metal-ize it with layers of powerful guitar chords and soul shaking drums, thereby transforming it from a meditative guide to one high flying, death defying, ass-kicking ride. MP3: Grails - Reincarnation Blues (Edit) Doomsdayer's Holiday by Grails will be out October 7th on Temporary Residence Records Grails [...]
by Black Bubblegum DOWNLOAD : Morne - "Machine" (MP3) DOWNLOAD : Hey Colossus - "Tight Collar" (MP3) DOWNLOAD : Hammers Of Misfortune - "Rats Assembly" (MP3) DOWNLOAD : Hammers Of Misfortune - "Church of Broken Glass" (MP3) DOWNLOAD : Grails - "Reincarnation Blues" (MP3) MORNE (members of Grief ) [...]
Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Danielson : "Animal In Every Corner (Version)" [mp3] from Trying Hartz (First Fruits '94-'04) (out Novenber 4th) other Danielson posts at Largehearted Boy F*cked Up : "Twice Born" [mp3] from The Chemistry Of Common Life (out October 7th) other F*cked Up posts at Largehearted Boy Grails [...]
With imagery drawing heavily from Greek history, Eastern mysticism, and other ancient artifacts, Grails' video montage for "Take Refuge" may do little to stop the "Music for Tomb Raiders" quips, but when the proverbial shoe fits, what are you to do, but wear it? Besides, it's not like their brand of contemplative, instrumenatl jams lend themselves to tightly coordinated dance offs, car chases, or comedy. VIDEO: Grails - Take Refuge Now, for your Grails news update: While it may seem like Grails' last album, Take Refuge in Clean Living, just came out (cause [...]
Yeah, that's me, wearing an original "Thriller" jacket worn and autographed by Michael Jackson during his world tour. No, that's not how I spent your donations, I swear. I just needed a picture of myself wearing it. You know, because you never know when you're going to need a picture of yourself looking like a flaming homosexual... 75orLess blog! Kevin from Ohio! The two of you combined put the Swan Fungus blog's first (and only) fundraiser over the lofty goal of $350 in two weeks! Thank you everybody who donated, I think I've mentioned you all by name [...]
Few bands come together with such a reverence for sound dynamics, and are then able to translate that so well to a record. If there's a proper place to hear Grails' latest album, it's sitting in the middle of a harem, floating on a sea of satin throw pillows. Don't forget the hookah. Take Refuge can be listened to in other places, but trying to create a proper atmosphere with black lights and beanbag chairs will only lead to heartbreak. By today's standards, Grails could be categorized under "post-rock," but don't throw them in [...]
An enterprising blogger has uncovered the world's first album cover (link courtesy of Vegan Nick). Designed by twenty-three year old Alex Steinweiss in 1939, the cover was conceptualized for Columbia Records, who previously sold recorded music in plain-colored sleeves (or what we now know as "inner sleeves"). The album, Smash Song Hits by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Harts, contained a marquee announcing the title and artists juxtaposed to a 78 label. Pretty awesome, no? Catching a glimpse of the world's first album cover can be a very inspiring moment in one's life. And, in [...]
Grails instrumental psych jams are as ideal for exploring the inner workings of the human mind as they are for soundtracking your journey to exotic, far off lands (in person, or through Discovery HD, for the less well to do). Or, as noted on Paper Thin Walls , they'd also provide the perfect accompaniment for any adventures encountered while digging for the Ark of the Covenant, The Holy Grail, or a Crystal Skull. On "Take Refuge," the standout cut from the Portland band's latest long player, Take Refuge in Clean Living, East meets West, [...]
Not all of Stereogum's favorite sounds conform to what folks expect us to cover. In this space, resident Bananafish fetishist Brandon Stosuy focuses on bands, albums, singles, and villages in Sweden that may otherwise pass by unnoticed. This installment's virtual milk crate contains Shit And Shine , Grails , and Humanfly . Shit And Shine's new one Kuss Mich, Meine Liebe is my favorite British-born record in recent memory: It's a distorted, distended, brown-tinted mass of fuzz and muck sectioned via titles like "Biggest Cock In Christendom," "The Germans [...]
Following close on the heels of last year's epic Burning Off Impurities , Grails have etched another dark Byzantine foray into forgotten civilizations and the darker caverns of the heart. Each of their records comes closer to becoming not only cinematic panoramas but sprawling worlds unto themselves. In the five songs that make up Take Refuge In Clean Living you can feel the oppressive heat of the sun, choke on the dust of forgotten roads, and become lost in the deafening roar of unfamiliar voices that pack the crowds around you. Grails have achieved what most if [...]
I awoke to the sound of my alarm clock as it struck 9:00am. Last night was another night of deep, dreamless sleep, only without the benefit of awakening refreshed and ready to greet the day. Although I longed to roll over and return to wherever the fuck my consciousness escapes to when I sleep, my desire to keep all the plans I've made this week got the best of me, and I instead rolled out of bed and threw on some clothes. My mother yelled to me from downstairs to declare she had made breakfast for me, and asked if [...]
One year ago this week I left the East Coast for Los Angeles. It is weird to think that I have not returned home since then, not in a homesick way, but in a "Huh. I wonder what changes I would find in the city or my hometown" way. For as long as I can recall, I have been prone to daydreaming. During these past twelve months, I have often caught myself trying to picture the drives to various places I used to frequent when I was living at home. I ponder landmarks that were used to use to calculate [...]
ROB You couldn't be. Look, Barry. There's going to be people from Laura's work there, people who own dogs and babies and Tina Turner albums. How are you going to cope with them? BARRY We're not called Barrytown anymore, by the by. They got sick of the Barry/Barrytown thing. We're called SDM. Sonic Death Monkey. ROB Sonic Death Monkey. BARRY What do you think? Dick likes it. ROB Barry, you're over thirty years [...]
Walt (above) is shown not soaking wet for the first time in four seasons. I've been promising for a week to write about this season's eighth episode of LOST , the mini-season finale before the show returns with five more episodes (and a true season finale) starting at 10:00pm April 24th. Apparently Grey's Anatomy will take over LOST 's 9:00pm slot, which is complete and utter bullshit because the former show sucks and LOST is the best show on television -- but that's not important right now. Today, [...]
Alright fellas, I couldn't finish the list on time, but I'll finish what I started hopefully. I'm still in London so I'm trying to wrap this thing up on a borrowed computer. Ahleuchatistas - Even in the Midst… ( Cuneiform ) : One of the three best math/maze rock albums this year from Asheville, NC's Ahleuchatistas . Past review on undomondo . Thilges - La Double Absence ( Staubgold ) : Decent electronic/acoustic eastern/western fusion album unlike others. Past [...]
Hello babes. It's been a long week, but the new mix tape is finally ready to be birthed into this uncertain world of ours. It will stimulate your aural cavities and bring you to climax. Unless, of course, you don't like good music, in which case I strongly advice you point your browser to another website and never return here. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something else to do. Probably. The above picture was taken Tuesday afternoon when Fawn and I took some of her former students Christmas shopping at Target. As I stated before, she [...]
Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius transformed Knitting Factory into a temple on Friday, hypnotizing their audience with the transcendental chant-metal of Om. For a band whose songs often meditate on but a single theme for upwards of 15 or 20 minutes, Om are anything but boring. [Grails] The same can't be said about opener Grails, however. Despite guitarist/bandleader Alex Hall's best efforts to
The last album I had by Grails was more of a compilation - the work of several years compressed into one excellent 45-minute journey. I'm not sure what I was expecting from this album, but whatever it was, I have been pleasantly surprised. The noodling, eclectic ephemera of Black Tar Prophecies has been replaced by a kind of Eastern European/old-school Kinski sound. It's dark, it's loud, it's layered, and it's very good. I feel that Grails now has the cred to stand on equal footing with [...]
DOWNLOAD: Grails - Back to the Monastery (MP3) Grails @ Europa OM and Grails played Europa in Brooklyn last night (Nov 14, 2007). Zach Dilgard was there and took some pictures.... Grails.... OM.... [...]
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