Bands You Should Know: Belgrade

This band took me by surprise. They were so good, in fact, that even though I had a promo copy of their album, I went out and ordered the LP.

Belgrade is unique to anything out right now, but could be peers to many late 90s and early 2000s post-punk bands. Melodic but not pop. There’s a rough edge slightly beneath the surface of their music.  If you’re a fan of Appleseed Cast or Sunny Day Real Estate, this is right up your alley.

Belgrade’s self-titled album has been in top rotation on my iPhone, Spotify and in my car since hearing it. At home, it’s in my top stack of LPs.  One of my favorites of 2013 so far.

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Bands You Should Know: Shark Speed

These past couple weeks some really great bands have been drifting by my radar.  This week, I discovered Provo, Utah’s Shark Speed.

Overflowing with wonderfully tangled chords, summersaulting rhythms and vocals that easily hit all the highs without sacrificing the lows, Sea Sick Music keeps you intrigued with unexpected electronic flourishes and subtle touches of brass. Still, the unforgettable melodies and hook-filled choruses are the real show stoppers. For a debut album – for any album – Sea Sick Music is incredibly accomplished and varied, not to mention fun and completely entertaining. [Beartrap PR]

Listen to Battle Born

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David Bazan Unleashes a New Song: Bless This Mess

In order to promote his first full length without the Pedro the Lion moniker, David Bazan has released a track off of his upcoming album Curse Your Branches.  The track is called Bless the Mess and according to Bazan is a kind of autobiographical song.  Something he’s never really done.

According to Bazan:

The song is largely autobiographical. So any narrative in the song reflects actual events. Though I may have embellished a bit. But the main lyrical gimmick is sort of a self-conscious and hopeful interpretation of the Beatitudes, which I have an uneasy relationship with as the narrative tends to illustrate.

Curse Your Branches is available for pre-order! You’ll get access to a free stream of the record if you order before Sept 1.

Pre-order HERE!

Free NIN, Janes Addiction and Street Sweeper Sampler

Download a FREE sampler with exclusive, previously-unreleased music from Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction and Street Sweeper.  The NIN|JA 2009 Tour starts on May 5, 2009 in West Palm Beach, Florida.  Download HERE.  More info  after the jump.

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