The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion

After waiting in alacrity for the past few months, it is with great pleasure that I can post about the new single from The Sound of Animals Fighting's upcoming album, The Ocean and The Sun.

The single, The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer's Medallion, is a return to the fast-paces style of their first release, The Tiger and The Duke. I really love the music of this single, but don't know if I'm down the ancillary fashion that the vocals seem to take in the song. The song actually sounds a bit like the more obscure The Mars Volta.

Either way, it's awesome to finally know the style of the new album (released 9/9/08) and I'm psyched.

You can find the song in the player.

JMMP.

New Music and Some Updates

Hello. It has been a while. I've been recharging and trying to find some quality music to discuss. Lucky for me, a couple of my favorite bands recently released some news, so here it goes...

Anthony Green: I talk about it him way too much on this blog. However, now, as opposed to previously just telling you what bands he has been in and how awesome he is, you can check him out for yourself. His new album, Avalon, is coming out August 5th and he has posted a couple songs to check out (Dear Child and Devil's Song). The songs are available in the player to your left. I'm very excited for this album, and to see him live w/ Good Old War and Person L in September.

The Sound of Animals Fighting just updated their MySpace page with some information about their upcoming release, The Ocean and The Sun. It'll be released on Sept. 9th. The album art is in this post. I need them to post a new song already.

A couple bands I'm listening to right now are Homesick for Space, The Receiving End of Sirens, The Fall of Troy, A Northern Chorus, and obviously Anthony Green. There are some songs in the player to the left.

JMMP.

The Sound of Animals Fighting

The Sound of Animals Fighting is a progressive, hardcore, emo super group of sorts. Compromised of members of RX Bandits, Circa Survive, Finch, Days Away, Chiodos, and The Autumns, the group was started by Rich Balling (formly of RX Bandits) a couple years ago and has since grown into a cult phenomenon for those who follow the progressive music scene. Their story is really interesting; how they came to collaborate, their writing process, the monikers they've given themselves. It is certainly worth checking out. A few links are:

Interview w/ Rich Balling
Wikipedia
MySpace

TSOAF has released to two albums so far, and plan to release a third, The Ocean and The Sun, in the coming months. A release date hasn't been set yet, but as soon as one is, I'll be posting it here. From what has been written, fans of The Mars Volta will be in for a treat (per Rich Balling, The Mars Volta is the inspiration for the band).

Also, here's a video from one of four live shows they've played. The song is called Act I: Chasing Suns. There is a bit of an intro in the video, so be patient until about 1:30 in. You won't be disappointed.



JMMP.

Listen with Conviction

The music industry is flooded with people who think they know what they're talking about.  You know how I know this?  Bands that are complete shit are still getting press.  I know it's a matter of personal preference.  Believe me.  I have friends who like Nickelback.  

Really though, something far more topical is just because a band puts together a string of notes and chords that hardly make sense (but are seemingly "cool") and throw together a vocal arrangement that is hardly mellifluous doesn't mean they are a good indie band.  Not to mention, just because a band has a "different" sound doesn't mean they are the second coming of the Lord Baby Jesus (think Vampire Weekend).

I guess I'm just annoyed.  When I listen to bands other people suggest, I wonder "are you really listening to this with some conviction?"...I mean, how can you really get in to a band like this?  I partially believe it is because people choose to like what will make them look the coolest, or the dopest, or the radest (yup, just made a couple of those words up).  I think we should be honest here and chalk it up to poor taste as well.  This probably doesn't come as a surprise to you intelligent readers, cognizant of what is right and wrong in the music industry, but it needed to be said.

What I have below is a list of bands that I feel very strongly about. Bands that I have a strong conviction towards.  Bands that I hope you'll enjoy as much as I do. 

Circa Survive (Listen to "In The Morning and Amazing")

The Sound of Animals Fighting (Listen to "The Heretic" and "You Don't Need A Witness")

The Most Serene Republic (Listen to "Sherry And Her Butterfly Net")

Tokyo Police Club (Listen to "Tessellate" and "In A Cave")

The Republic Tigers (Listen to "Buildings And Mountains")

What bands do you have conviction towards?

Also, going forward, this blog will be a lot less whiney.  I just felt I needed to prologue all the amazing music to come.

JMMP.