Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)

Review from The Smoker's Ledge:

This album has given me a new hope for this generation. Along with the new British invasion…oh wait. These dudes are from Texas? You gotta be kidding me.

Spoon, along with Cake and other funkily monikered bands, deserve a listen beyond the name. Their last offering, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, has given something truly amazing, damn good music. From the glam punk glimmer of Yr Cherry Bomb , to the acoustic slapfest The Underdog, Spoon crafts something beautiful in the fact that it sounds so new, and yet welcoming. I had the privilege of buying this album and reviewing it in the mountains of Mexico, where I spread this album like the Good Word.

The only thing I will tell about this album is if you are a fan of any British music, new wave or not, this album will be your revival into the world, your trial by fire. If you love hard hitting American rock, this might just creep into your most played on ITunes.

Check it out, you’ve got nothing to lose, right?

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z8G98T6R

Protest the Hero - Kezia (2005)

Blogger Review:

Protest the Hero is a relatively new band, but more people should hear about them. Until 2006, these guys didn't have a label, so their new album, Fortress, released in 2008 is their first non-indie release. However, Kezia is their first full-length album.

Before listening to Kezia, one thing must be kept in mind. The album is the elegy of a young woman named Kezia (hence the album name). The story is told through the perspective of three characters: The Prison Priest, The Prison Guard, and Kezia. Each character has a section of three songs with a finale that comprises of all three characters.

The album itself is absolutely solid. The vocals from lead singer Rody Walker seem to reach out into your heart and tear it out. Blistering guitar riffs, heavy bass, and fantastic drumwork dominate the album, with acoustic breaks in between songs that you don't expect but blend in so perfectly with the rest of the music. Sometimes a female vocalist will also be brought in to contribute, especially during Kezia's songs, which add even more depth to this album.

Basically, just listen to this. It's absolutely amazing. And if you want more, their new album, Fortress, is out, so there is still plenty to be had of Protest the Hero.

Track Listing:

Prison Priest persona

1. "No Stars Over Bethlehem"
   
2. "Heretics and Killers"
   
3. "Divinity Within"
   

Prison Guard persona

4. "Bury the Hatchet"
   
5. "Nautical"
   
6. "Blindfolds Aside"
   

Persona of Kezia herself

7. "She Who Mars the Skin of Gods"
   
8. "Turn Soonest to the Sea"
   
9. "The Divine Suicide of K."
   

Finale

10. "A Plateful of Our Dead"
    

Personal Favorite Tracks: Turn Soonest to the Sea, Blindfolds Aside, Divinity Within, The Divine Suicide of K

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OVRZSNOD

LostProphets - Liberation Transmission (2006)

Blogger Review:

The LostProphets have come a long way since their first two albums. Liberation Transmission shows a different side of the band. Most people consider them emo but I certainly don't. If you need any convincing, then just listen to Liberation Transmission. Unfortunately, the album is really misinterpreted by the casual listener because of the two singles that have been released for it, "Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)" and "4:AM Forever." Both of these singles are really emo-ish ballads and definitely the softest songs of the album. While both songs are great, most of the tracks on the album are more upbeat.
The album itself is pretty solid. Most of the songs are chock-full of catchy guitar riffs, and all-around great performances by the rest of the band. The album starts off strong with "Everyday Combat" and "A Town Called Hypocrisy." The upbeat songs carry on throughout, while "Rooftops" and "4:AM" are thrown in to break up the monotony. But the true charm of Liberation Transmission lies in the songs that grab your head and don't let go. Some of these tracks include "A Town Called Hypocrisy" and "Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time)." Whether its the infectious beat or the snappy lyrics, these songs will be stuck in your head for a week at the very least.
Needless to say, I absolutely love this album, I certainly hope you do too.

Personal Favorite Tracks: I can't choose just a few. They're all great.

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CWF4QOX7

Linkin Park - Piano Instrumentals (2003)

Blogger Review:

I am a little biased about this album because Linkin Park happens to be my favorite band of all time. Not because I am an angst ridden teen that turns to nu-metal for relief. That's just bullshit, I don't even know what the fuck nu-metal is. No, I love Linkin Park because I believe that they are a truly innovative band that are extremely talented musically. That, and their songs just plain kick ass.
This album contains a bunch of Linkin Park's songs in piano (hence the title.) Not much else to say about it. Personally, I think it kicks major ass. But you either really love this album or you really hate it. Some of the songs do sound a little strange like "Pushing Me Away," but ultimately it mostly depends on your opinion of Linkin Park and the original songs. However, some tracks on this album are pretty solid like "Faint" and "Numb."
As I say about any band or album, just give this album a shot and see. You may surprise yourself.

Personal Favorite Tracks: Faint, Lying From You, Numb

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=BLUVIPIE

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (2007)

The Smoker's Ledge: A Modest Proposal

For Modest Mouse fans, The Moon and Antarctica was the platform, but Good News for People Who Love Bad News was the point where they blew onto the scene. The best thing about them? Their last release, We Were Dead before the Ship Even Sank, took them even higher, the musical equivalent of someone dousing themselves in lighter fluid, hitting 100 on the highway as they slam into a police barricade just after sparking a match. The album is incredible, weaving in and out of musical genres, defying a label. From the disco-pop driven “Dashboard”, alternatively titled “Best Fucking Driving Song of 2007”, to the mellow marshmallow melting cool down “Fire It Up”, it all makes for a kick ass follow up to Good News. “Florida” is another excellent track, especially for those gone away to college, giving you the soundtrack to look back as you wind your way into another town, but its still not far enough. “Missed the Boat” is another key track, opening with a Phil Collins drumbeat straight outta’ “In The Air of the Night” when some down South geetar comes into the mix. For anyone, this album will have one song that comes off as your favorite, all I can say is make it your own. It is such an excellent mix, embrace it now if you haven’t already.

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KLMWD0TZ

The Classic Crime - Albatross (2006)

Blogger Review:

“Welcome to the crime scene, we are all so excited! You guys are really going to rock the whole wide world…” And thus begins “The Fight,” the first song off of The Classic Crime’s debut album, Albatross. As the guitar starts to kick in, prepare to be amazed. I actually picked this album up at my friendly neighborhood Best Buy after hearing the single “The Coldest Heart,” and it was definitely a great investment. Superficially, The Classic Crime may seem like your typical pop-punk, whiney-little-bitch band, but they are anything but that. There is no “The girl I love doesn’t love me so I’m gonna go cut my wrists” to be found here. Their message is a positive one. It conveys hope for what lies ahead, despite any setbacks one might have experienced in the past.
Albatross packs a good mix of straight up, honest-to-god rock music. You have some crazy, guitar driven blood pumpers like “The Fight,” “Blisters and Coffee,” and “The Poet.” But you also have some emotional, lighter songs like “The Coldest Heart,” “Who Needs Air,” and “All The Memories,” but even the ballads don’t get too sappy. All in all, this is one really solid album, and a very highly recommended download. Hell, go and buy the damn thing if you like it, I did (and that’s saying something).

Personal Favorite Tracks: All of them. Seriously.

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=16N1Q8SU

DearestAzazel - Come Closer (2006)

Blogger Review:

You turn this album on and the very first thing you’re hit with is the synthesizers. Then the subtle guitar riffs. Add some catchy lyrics, crazy 80’s style keyboards, and a sweet drum beat and you have what some call dance metal or power dance rock. But more importantly, this is DearestAzazel. This under-the-radar band’s debut effort seamlessly blends together many different elements to create a product that gets the blood pumping and turns the dance floor into a people magnet. The album starts off light with “The Disappearance” but begins to pick up in “Sex Is a Sin” and then smacks you in the face with “Take Escape.” The album continues to rock your face off until the finale, “Under the Big Tree.” On this last piece, they mellow it out, but add some guitar in there to make sure you didn’t forget who you were dealing with. With the killer sound DearestAzazel has, there is no doubt that they’re gonna hit it big sometime soon.

Personal favorite tracks: Take Escape, Ashland After Midnight, The Dream

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LE7TJ7K1

Rage Against the Machine - Rage Against the Machine (1992)

The word from The Smoker's Ledge:

Yeah, you feel it slowly creeping up on you, the bass, the kick drum, you know its Bombtrack, the lead off into Rage Against the Machine’s self titled debut. I remember The Battle of Los Angeles as my first Rage album, and the issues that came along with buying the album. I’ll never forget riding in my dad’s truck after buying the album, knowing exactly what was on the album, but since there was not a parental advisory sticker shoving bullshit down my parent’s throats, I never saw an issue arising. After hearing, I’ll say 4 minutes, my folks let out a “what the fuck?!” look at each other. They let it roll, but they wanted to listen through it with me. It was since then that I bought all the albums and can remember being an angry little fucker with a soundtrack in middle school. I loved it. Wailing along “and now you’re under control!” when everyone loses it to Killing in the Name Of, you’re on top of the fucking world. Fists in the air, jump around at a show, kick someone’s ass, you name the event, emotion, you’ll feel it then. It’ll run through you, from Wake Up, Bullet in the Head, and topping it all off with Freedom, the debut’s final kick in the teeth. The funniest thing of it all is Rage’s accreditation with spawning nu-metal, which is true, but they should be kept as far apart as possible. While goateed little bitch Fred Durst is around fucking pop princesses and all the other nu-metal bullshit scream in their suburban sprawl, Rage has dealt with the same issues over the years, from politics to slavery. There is a cause on this album, and if you look hard enough into the issues, you just might be tempted to set yourself on fire like Thích Quảng Đức, the monk who set himself on fire in protest of Vietnamese abuse of Buddhists. Get this album, get in your car, hit the express way, run around your cities and yell you motherfuckers.

Download link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8M1LIGIA

I'm Not There - OST (2007)

Soundtrack to the new film about Bob Dylan, "I'm Not There." All the songs are Bob Dylan covers by A LOT of different artist. And that's pretty much it. It' s a bunch of awesomeness packed into two discs.

Download link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YOBGNAF4

The X-Ecutioners - Built From Scratch (2002)

Review from RapReviews.com:

If you're a fan of the turntablist arts - or put more simply, if you like talented DJ's who can mix and do tricks - then you already know these X-Men. True mutants of the music industry, the venerable vinyl wielders Rob Swift, Roc Raida, Total Eclipse and Mista Sinista due with dusty grooves what Picasso and Van Gogh did with paint - except the landscapes these maestros create is built on sound. As a matter of fact, it's "Built From Scratch."

Five years ago, these technicians of Technics attempted to solidfy their already solid live reputation with the album "X-Pressions" on indie label Asphodel. Unfortunately the album was crippled by a lack of publicity and the fact no big-name MC's contributed to any of their tracks. While all veteran hip-hop fans love to hear a DJ get wicked on the 1200's, it's undeniable that a great DJ with a great rapper or group is even better. What would Run-D.M.C. be without Jam Master Jay? What's MC Shan without Marley Marl? Can you even imagine Public Enemy without Terminator X?

This time around, the X-Ecutioners have taken the best elements of their musical wizardy on wax and broadened the horizons by bringing in an array of all-star performers. Starting it off right on "XL" is Large Professor, a legendary rapping producer in his own right. Roc Raida and Knobody provide a vicious Brookly banger of guitars and drums for M.O.P. to rap over on "Let it Bang," and crossover comes in the other direction too as members of Linkin Park produce and rap on "It's Goin' Down" with X-Ecutioners providing scratch. Lest you think the musical mayhem swing too far away from hip-hop though, you're in for a real rare treat: Kool G. Rap and the late great Big Pun rapping together on "Dramacyde."

These four songs alone would be worth the price of admission (a surprisingly low $9.99, at least at Best Buy) but the X-Ecutioners do not dissapoint on the more strictly skills oriented tracks either. If you're the kind of hip-hop head who has DJ albums by T-Rock and Q*Bert in your collection you won't be dissapointed by tracks like "X-Ecutioners Scratch" or "A Journey Into Sound." Dan the Automator produces the x-cellent "X-Ecutioners (Theme) Song" and "Premier's X-ecution" features a guest beat and vinyl slice by who else but perennial hip-hop favorite DJ Premier. Hip-Hop's legendary mouth music vocalist turned DJ Biz Markie even gets into the act with the remake "Genius of Love 2002," a worthy tribute to the original song.

Some people are probably going to hate on this album because the X-Ecutioners are reaching out to a broader audience than turntablist fans this time, but this reviewer is glad to see four such skilled DJ's bringing a still relatively uninformed public deeper into the world of hip-hop elements. The pinnacle of this achievment has to be the thumping track "The X (Y'all Know the Name)" featuring the rap talents of (who else) Pharoahe Monch and Xzibit, with the X-TRA bonus of Inspectah Deck and Mad Skillz getting wreck. The fact that this track can appeal to both vinyl junkies and hardcore mic-wrecking fans proves that these X-Men know X-ACTLY what the fuck they're doing. Can you pass on this album and still be a true head? Maybe, but be careful you don't get X-ecuted.

Download Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I2LAQOIK